The Kremlin announced on Monday that preparations are underway for a highly anticipated phone call between President Vladimir V. Putin and President Donald Trump. This discussion comes amid swirling questions regarding Trump’s recent comments about the future of Ukrainian assets and power plants. The scheduled call on Tuesday marks the first confirmed conversation between the two leaders since Ukraine expressed its willingness to support a U.S.-backed cease-fire lasting one month, contingent upon Russia's agreement to do the same.
President Trump has made it clear that he aims to broker some form of truce as rapidly as possible. In contrast, President Putin appears to be using this moment as an opportunity to secure further concessions. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening, Trump shared his expectations for the upcoming call, indicating that territorial issues and the fate of Ukrainian power plants would be key topics of discussion. He also mentioned previous conversations regarding the potential for “dividing up certain assets.”
“We want to see if we can bring that war to an end,” Trump stated confidently, adding, “Maybe we can. Maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance.” This statement underscores the urgency and significance of the dialogue between the U.S. and Russia as they navigate the complex landscape of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
As anticipation builds for the phone call, the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, confirmed on Monday that the conversation is indeed expected to occur the following day. However, when pressed about specific topics, particularly whether Ukrainian power plants would be part of the agenda, Peskov declined to provide details. “We never get ahead of things,” he remarked, emphasizing that, in Moscow's view, the details of discussions between the two leaders should not be disclosed beforehand.
This upcoming call is pivotal, as it holds the potential to influence not only the trajectory of U.S.-Russia relations but also the broader situation in Ukraine. As both leaders prepare to engage, the world watches closely to see if this will lead to meaningful progress toward peace in the region.
