On May 19, 2025, President Donald Trump shared that Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Talks to stop the conflict would start right away. He made this statement after a lengthy and positive phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin that lasted over two hours.
Trump also reached out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and spoke with several European leaders, all in hopes of moving closer to a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Trump shared on social media that the specifics of any agreement would be decided by Russia and Ukraine themselves, since only they truly understand the details of their dispute.
He described his conversation with Putin as “excellent,” emphasizing that he would have said otherwise if it hadn’t gone well. This conversation happened after the White House stated that Trump was becoming increasingly impatient with both Russia and Ukraine because the war was continuing.
Following the conversation, President Putin expressed that Russia was willing to keep talking to find a way to stop the war, though he acknowledged that no significant progress had been made so far. He stressed that both countries needed to find solutions that would be acceptable to everyone involved. Putin also mentioned that Russia was ready to propose a document to Ukraine that could serve as the basis for a future peace agreement. He made it clear that Russia’s main goal was to address the root causes of the crisis.
President Trump has faced challenges in trying to end the war, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. These recent talks are a significant test of Trump’s reputation as a negotiator, especially since he had promised to resolve the conflict quickly if he returned to the White House.
Trump shared his hope that the actions taken that day would move both sides closer to agreeing on a ceasefire. But before the conversation, Vice President JD Vance made it clear that Trump was prepared to abandon the peace process if he believed Putin was not genuinely interested in negotiating. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said Trump was tired of the ongoing conflict and wanted to see a peaceful resolution as soon as possible.
Trump is relying on his strong personality and previous relationship with Putin to help break the deadlock. Vice President Vance reiterated that the United States wanted real results and would not continue efforts if there was no progress. He emphasized, “We are looking for real results,” showing that the United States expects tangible progress.
There was also mention of the Vatican showing interest in hosting the peace negotiations, but no official plans had been made. Trump’s frustration with the war had been building for some time, and he said his discussion with Putin would focus on stopping the violence and possibly include trade talks. This suggests that Trump might consider using economic incentives to help reach an agreement, especially since U.S. and allied sanctions have put pressure on Russia’s economy.
Trump hopes that the war, which he believes should never have happened, will come to an end soon. Vice President Vance said Trump would press Putin to see if he was genuinely interested in peace, and if not, Trump might stop trying to mediate. Vance pointed out that both sides need to want peace, and if Russia is not willing, the U.S. might step back and let others handle the conflict.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that if Putin did not negotiate sincerely, Trump was prepared to impose more sanctions on Russia. Bessent also noted that previous sanctions under President Biden had not stopped Russia’s oil revenues because of concerns about rising prices in the U.S. The U.S. tried to limit Russia’s oil income while keeping oil flowing to avoid causing inflation.
Not long ago, President Putin turned down President Zelenskyy’s invitation to meet in Turkey for a 30-day ceasefire, an idea that had backing from Ukraine and Western countries. Instead, representatives from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul for their first face-to-face discussions since March 2022. The talks wrapped up in under two hours and concluded without a truce, but both parties did decide to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war. According to Ukraine’s intelligence chief, this exchange could take place soon.
As he finished his visit to the Middle East, Trump remarked that Putin chose not to attend the discussions in Turkey because Trump himself was absent. Trump stated that he and Putin would have their meeting, expressing hope that they could find a solution to the conflict, though he acknowledged there was also a possibility they might not be successful. At the very least, he said, both sides would know where things stood.
In Rome, President Zelenskyy met with Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and various European officials to strengthen his position ahead of the planned talks. Zelenskyy later posted on social media that the Russian delegation in Turkey was made up of lower-level officials who could not make decisions, but he stressed that Ukraine was committed to genuine diplomacy for a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy also mentioned that their discussions covered the need for continued sanctions against Russia, trade issues, defense cooperation, the situation on the battlefield, and the upcoming prisoner exchange. He emphasized that pressure must be kept on Russia until they are ready to end the war.
The German government said that Chancellor Friedrich Merz, along with leaders from France, Britain, and Italy, spoke with Trump about the situation in Ukraine and his upcoming call with Putin. They indicated that talks and exchanges would continue after the Trump-Putin conversation.
President Trump is making a renewed push for peace between Russia and Ukraine, using direct talks with both leaders and support from European allies. While he remains hopeful, he has made it clear that the U.S. will not continue efforts if there is no genuine commitment to ending the conflict. The coming days will show whether these talks can bring about a much-needed ceasefire or if the war will continue.
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