On Tuesday, President Donald Trump is scheduled to engage in a crucial phone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin, aiming to secure the Russian leader's approval for a proposed 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This call comes amidst escalating tensions and a deteriorating situation in both Russia and Ukraine. On Monday, Trump expressed his concerns, stating, "What's happening in Ukraine is not good, but we're going to see if we can work a peace agreement, a ceasefire and peace, and I think we'll be able to do it." His optimism reflects a belief that progress could be made during this critical conversation.
In recent days, significant diplomatic efforts have taken place, including peace talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. As a result of these discussions, Ukraine has expressed willingness to implement an immediate, temporary halt to hostilities, contingent upon a similar response from Russia. However, Putin has remained noncommittal regarding this proposal, with fighting intensifying in regions like Kursk. While he has acknowledged the need for a ceasefire, he has also laid out his own conditions, including specific security guarantees.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Putin of obstructing peace efforts and extending the conflict. In light of this, Trump emphasized that his involvement in negotiations is driven by humanitarian concerns, stating, "A lot of people are being killed over there. And, we had to get Ukraine to do the right thing." He reiterated the importance of reaching a ceasefire and ultimately a peace agreement, acknowledging the complexities of the situation.
According to a Ukrainian official, Zelenskyy will be closely monitoring the upcoming dialogue between Trump and Putin. The official conveyed concerns about the possibility of Russia imposing conditions in response to the U.S. ceasefire proposal, stating, "We agreed to the U.S. ceasefire proposal with zero conditions, and if Putin is gonna start playing with Trump setting demands -- it will not work."
A pivotal question remains regarding how much pressure Trump will exert on Russia to agree to a ceasefire and bring an end to the conflict that has persisted for over three years, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Notably, Trump's administration had previously taken drastic measures to halt military aid and pause intelligence-sharing with Ukraine after tensions escalated between Trump and Zelenskyy. However, these measures resumed following Ukraine's agreement to the ceasefire last Tuesday.
Furthermore, U.S. officials have indicated that it might be unrealistic for Ukraine to revert to its prewar borders and have explicitly ruled out Ukraine's bid for NATO membership. In contrast, the Trump administration has not publicly demanded similar concessions from Russia.
In anticipation of the Tuesday call, Trump mentioned that discussions would likely encompass sensitive topics such as land and power plants, including the potential division of certain assets between the two nations. "I think we'll be talking about land. It's a lot of land. It's a lot different than it was before the wars, you know," Trump commented during a press briefing on Air Force One.
While Trump expressed a willingness to increase pressure on Russia if necessary, he indicated a preference for avoiding such measures, stating, "There are things you could do that wouldn't be pleasant in a financial sense... I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia. I don't want to do that because I want to get peace." As the world watches this pivotal moment in international relations, the outcome of Trump's call with Putin could significantly impact the future of Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape.
Contributors to this report include ABC News’ Oleksiy Pshemyskiy and Michelle Stoddart.
