Trump’s Diplomatic Dance: A Step Closer to Ukraine Peace?
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump revealed that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House. The call aimed to coordinate next steps in the peace process to end the war in Ukraine. According to Trump, the conversation with Putin lasted around 40 minutes and was “candid and very constructive”. Putin expressed support for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, a crucial step towards resolving the conflict.
During the meeting with European leaders, Trump discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, emphasizing the possibility of peace between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy thanked Trump and other leaders for their efforts, highlighting the “long and detailed” conversation they had about bringing peace closer. The Ukrainian President also appreciated the US signal regarding its readiness to support and be part of the guarantees. A potential meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is on the horizon, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stating that Putin agreed to meet Zelenskyy within two weeks.
Trump’s diplomatic efforts come after a hot-mic moment where he told French President Emmanuel Macron, “I think [Putin] wants to make a deal… I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds.” Following the talks, Trump confirmed that a trilateral meeting between him, Putin, and Zelenskyy would take place after the bilateral meeting between the two warring presidents. This development marks a crucial step in the peace process, with Trump describing it as “a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years”.
