U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded a closely watched call Monday, May 19, with both leaders saying they made progress toward ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump added that the Vatican’s new pontiff expressed interest in hosting the pending negotiations to help end the “bloodbath.”
Call between Trump and Putin
Trump said the two countries will immediately begin negotiating what is hoped to be an end to the three-year war. Following the two-hour call, Trump posted on Truth Social, “The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.”
According to Reuters, Putin echoed a similar sentiment after the call, telling reporters in Russia that officials are taking steps toward ending the war. He said he remains willing to work with Ukraine on a potential peace agreement.
Trump said the United States and Russia hope to work together on large-scale projects once the war in Ukraine ends. He said Russia has an opportunity to create jobs and generate wealth, describing it as a country with “unlimited potential.” Trump also said something similar about Ukraine, saying it “can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its Country.”
On Friday, May 16, Moscow and Kyiv held their most direct talks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The two sides reportedly spoke for less than two hours and ended by agreeing to a large prisoner swap.
Putin said the first or main hurdle will be finding a way to eliminate the cause of the crisis between the two countries. He said there has to be a plan to determine how to move toward peace.
Following the phone call, Trump told a crowd in the Rose Garden that the war is terrible and claims 5,000 people every week, a figure that officials have not verified. “It’s a terrible situation going on over there; 5,000 young people every single week are being killed. So hopefully, we did something,” he said.
What is Ukraine’s president saying?
Meanwhile, Trump also said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other NATO leaders, so that he could relay what he and Putin discussed.
According to Al Jazeera, Zelenskyy released a statement saying Kyiv stands ready and prepared to make real decisions toward a ceasefire. “What’s needed is a mirrored readiness from Russia to engage in meaningful talks,” he said.
At the European Political Community Summit on May 16, Zelenskyy said, “Our number one priority is a full, unconditional, and honest ceasefire. This must happen immediately to stop the killing and create a solid basis for diplomacy.”
Zelenskyy called for an immediate halt to the fighting, urging steps to build trust such as releasing prisoners of war, returning children taken by Russia and freeing civilian hostages. He said all parties must address key decisions at the leadership level.
Zelenskyy also emphasized the need to build a new security framework for Ukraine and Europe with the support of allied nations. He added that continued cooperation with Trump and long-term U.S. support are critical to ending the war, calling for close coordination and an American security backstop.
What are other global leaders saying?
Ahead of the highly anticipated call, leaders from Italy, Germany, France and Britain spoke with Trump on Sunday. Following the meeting, the British government said, “The leaders discussed the need for an unconditional ceasefire and for President Putin to take peace talks seriously.
According to the statement, the leaders discussed the possibility of imposing sanctions on Russia if Putin fails to engage in ceasefire negotiations seriously.
French President Emmanuel Macron also took to X on Sunday, saying Putin must show a willingness to agree to a ceasefire. “Tomorrow, President Putin must show he wants peace by accepting the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by President Trump and backed by Ukraine and Europe,” Macron wrote in the post.
