World Watches as Trump Announces Russia, Ukraine Peace Talks to Begin Immediately

In an unexpected diplomatic twist, former US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine will begin direct negotiations to achieve a ceasefire and eventually end the war. This follows a two-hour telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was “very well” and “constructive,” according to Trump. Trump also called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shortly afterward, for the second time, expressing his view that now is the appropriate time for negotiations.

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that both nations were now prepared to negotiate the terms of peace, something that could be an abrupt change in the war beginning in 2022. He noted that only the two respective nations directly concerned – Russia and Ukraine would be able to dictate the terms of ceasefire and the other nations would not get the niceties as well as the two parties.

“Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,” Trump wrote. He added that while peace conditions must be mutually agreed upon by the two nations, U.S. and European support for the peace process must remain steadfast.

Though the hopeful words of Trump are welcome, they are not believed. There have been a lot of such instances in the war between Russia and Ukraine where hope has been belied with no faith and continuous fighting. Though Putin consented to be open to negotiating a memorandum of the terms of the current peace treaty, his own words and deeds have been sufficient to create sufficient distrust that his good faith cannot be trusted by many.

The President of Ukraine Zelensky responded diplomatically. Calling it a “defining moment,” he reiterated that Ukraine would like to see a “full and unconditional ceasefire.” But he continued to refuse to acknowledge that the negotiations were to be conducted with America and Europe’s representatives at the respective levels. Zelensky categorically ruled out that Ukraine would be excluded from deciding its future, invoking sovereignty and transparency as the cornerstones of any negotiation.

We will not sign a ceasefire on guarantees or to freeze the situation,” Zelensky declared. He added that unless Moscow came to sit and sign, more sanctions and pressure would be a reality.

Interestingly enough, Trump’s declaration happens exactly when as much as he himself is growing more impatient with the glacial pace of events between the two warring nations. Over the last weeks, he has alluded in public that the U.S. would withdraw from being a mediator unless there were serious developments in prospect. But during the reception at the White House following the calls, Trump promised the public that the United States would remain engaged but with his own “red line” as to when further engagement would cease.

Putin, in a Sochi music school, described the call with Trump as “frank, informative, and constructive.” Putin outlined Russia’s offer to negotiate a memorandum with “principles of the settlement” and a deadline by which a peace agreement should be signed. No ceasefire time was noted, but Putin was more explicit than previously.

Yury Ushakov, a senior aide to Putin, added that while Trump was pressing for action, the timing of when a ceasefire might be attained was uncertain. That leaves one wondering whether negotiations are proceeding at the pace and in good faith.

European leaders moved hastily in response to Trump’s initiative. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, a participant in Trump’s second call with Zelensky, welcomed the initiative. “I would like to thank President Trump for his tireless efforts to bring a ceasefire to Ukraine,” she said. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni also latched on to the Pope’s initial gesture to come together for negotiations at the Vatican, a gesture that has come back and is “favorably evaluated” by the world leaders.

Nevertheless, tensions on the ground remain high. Previously, before Trump made the announcement, Ukraine was attacked by one of the largest drone attacks it has ever witnessed since the war began. A minimum of 10 civilians were killed in recent Russian bombardment, nine in a direct hit on a minibus carrying civilians, the Ukrainian officials reported. This kind of situation is grabbed by national security authorities in Ukraine as evidence that Russia’s peace overtures are fake.

Meanwhile, there had been also potential for cooperation to be provided through the means of a prisoner exchange, itself agreed in recently concluded negotiations eyeball-to-eyeball. But it offered nothing on broader ceasefire terms. A pre-stated Russian May 8–11 ceasefire was rejected by Kyiv with charges that the Kremlin exploited temporary windows of ceasefire for tactical purpose only. Similarly, an Easter ceasefire of short duration witnessed many violations on both sides.

This atmosphere of broken trust and irretrievable escalation explains why Ukraine is hesitant to take any Russian advances at face value. The Zelensky administration insists that only an unconditional 30-day ceasefire would be a gesture of good faith on Moscow’s part.

Though these are subtleties, Trump’s inclusion has permanently changed global conversation. Whether this is the beginning of a new age of diplomacy or just another chapter of broken promise time is to be determined on what Russia and Ukraine do next. That so many world leaders are involved in the second call indicates an effort at increased accountability but is a road with fate still unknown.

What’s for sure is that Trump and Putin are now signaling an openness to negotiating. Zelensky, though hesitant, is likewise eager to seek peace but on terms that ensure the independence and security of Ukraine. The world holds its breath as the next few weeks will tell if this “defining moment” will be a lasting answer or yet another lost chance in one of the darkest conflicts of the modern age.