Washington/Moscow: US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire, and an end to their war.
Trump’s announcement came after a two-hour phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
In a post on his Truth Social account, the US President also said the conditions for the ceasefire will be negotiated between the two parties. He also said that Russia wants to do large-scale trade with the US once the Ukraine war is over.
President Trump said he has already informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb.
“I just completed my two hour call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. I believe it went very well. Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.
“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. The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent.
“If it wasn’t, I would say so now, rather than later. Russia wants to do largescale TRADE with the United States when this catastrophic ‘bloodbath’ is over, and I agree.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its Country. Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will begin immediately.
“I have so informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, President Emmanuel Macron, of France, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of Italy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of Germany, and President Alexander Stubb, of Finland, during a call with me, immediately after the call with President Putin.
“The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations. Let the process begin!”
Vice President JD Vance on Sunday met in Rome with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, in their first face-to-face conversation since the February Oval Office meeting.
President Trump and Putin last spoke in March.
Monday’s calls come on the heels of talks in Istanbul, attended by White House envoy Steve Wikoff. Neither Putin nor Zelenskyy attended.
The talks in Istanbul broke up after less than two hours, although both sides did agree to each exchange 1,000 prisoners of war, according to official delegations.
The US had also repeatedly expressed its own ‘waning patience’ regarding the issue, saying that it will walk out if no solution is reached between the two parties.
Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had stated that any American involvement in the peace talks between Moscow and Kiev will be governed by ‘realistic’ promises, with Rubio stating that the best way to get to any kind of an agreement was with direct talks between Putin and Trump.
