Trump, Putin Hold Phone Call to Gauge Progress on Ukraine Peace Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in a call focused on efforts to end the war in Ukraine and discuss broader trade issues. According to the White House, the call—originally scheduled for 10 a.m.—was delayed by about 45 minutes as Trump first spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump reportedly aimed to secure Putin’s agreement to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. However, a senior White House official told AFP the president has grown “frustrated and angry” over the slow pace of progress in resolving the conflict.

Ahead of the call, Vice President JD Vance previewed the expected tone of the conversation. “These negotiations have been dragging on, and we’re at a stalemate,” Vance said. “I think the President will be direct: ‘Are you serious about peace? Are you truly committed to this?’”

Vance noted it remains unclear what exactly is holding the talks back, though he acknowledged that Putin had made certain concessions and engaged in meaningful discussions. “But we’re stuck, and that’s why President Trump decided it was time to talk to him directly,” he said.

The administration hopes the talks will yield results, with a genuine peace proposal from both Russia and Ukraine being the first major milestone. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who helped coordinate the call, said the conversation is intended to clarify each side’s position on the war. While optimistic, he acknowledged the complexities of the conflict and stressed that both sides would need to compromise.

“This call isn’t about sealing a deal immediately,” Witkoff said. “It’s about narrowing the gaps and finding common ground.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov offered a cautious outlook, saying the war in Ukraine “won’t be resolved overnight.”

“There’s painful and prolonged work ahead. It will take time,” Peskov told reporters, adding that any solution would involve “many nuanced discussions.”

He also confirmed that the Trump–Putin call would be informed by recent negotiations held in Istanbul, Turkey. “It’s an important step, considering the dialogue that took place in Istanbul. We’ve already laid out the key positions,” he said.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul on May 16 for their first direct talks since March 2022. The 90-minute meeting ended without a breakthrough. While both sides explored the idea of a ceasefire, they failed to reach an agreement.

(Sources: AFP, Reuters)

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