On the marketing campaign path final 12 months, Donald Trump promised to finish the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However within the 5 months since taking workplace, the USA president has struggled to get the 2 sides to comply with a ceasefire.
On Monday, Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for 2 hours – their third formally introduced name since January – however didn’t safe a truce. As a substitute, Trump wrote on his Fact Social platform that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to “fast ceasefire” talks.
Trump additionally spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his “glorious dialog” with Putin. He made one other name to leaders from the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and Finland in addition to Zelenskyy.
Whereas Ukraine and its Western allies need a direct ceasefire, Russia says its issues have to be addressed earlier than talks, reiterating {that a} ceasefire could be agreed upon after addressing “the foundation causes of this disaster.”
Right here is extra concerning the a lot anticipated calls and the way Ukraine and Europe have responded:
What occurred?
Trump and Putin stated they have been on the decision for about two hours on Monday.
“Russia and Ukraine will instantly begin negotiations towards a Ceasefire and, extra importantly, an END to the Warfare,” Trump posted after the calls.
He stated the circumstances for such a ceasefire could possibly be negotiated solely between Russia and Ukraine.
After his name with Trump, Putin known as the dialog “productive”.
“I expressed my gratitude to the president of the USA for the help supplied by the USA in facilitating the resumption of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine geared toward probably reaching a peace settlement and resuming the talks,” Putin informed reporters within the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
The Trump-Putin name got here days after the primary direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since 2022 in Turkiye. Friday’s talks in Istanbul yielded no breakthrough on a ceasefire, however the two sides agreed to a prisoner trade.
A US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio was additionally in Istanbul as a part of the Trump administration’s push to finish the greater than three-year conflict – Europe’s worst since World Warfare II.
Trump has been crucial of his predecessor President Joe Biden’s Ukraine coverage, which shipped billions of {dollars} of weapons and humanitarian help to Ukraine. A number of the help has already been reduce by the Trump administration.
A day earlier than the calls, Ukraine accused Russia of launching its largest drone assault of the conflict, killing a minimum of one girl. Moscow has but to answer these allegations.
A resident carries a cat on the website of a home closely broken by a Russian drone strike exterior of Kyiv on Might 18 (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)
What did Russia comply with?
Putin stated Trump on Monday introduced his place on the prospects for a ceasefire. “I famous that Russia additionally helps a peaceable settlement of the Ukraine disaster as properly. What we’d like now could be to determine the best methods in direction of reaching peace,” Putin stated.
“We have now agreed with the president of the USA that Russia will suggest and is able to work with the Ukrainian facet on a memorandum on a potential future peace accord,” he stated.
Putin added that this memorandum would outline “the rules of settlement (and) the timing of a potential peace settlement”.
“I want to notice that, on the entire, Russia’s place is obvious. The principle factor for us is to eradicate the foundation causes of this disaster,” Putin stated. “We simply want to find out the best methods to maneuver in direction of peace.”
Russia desires Ukraine to drop its efforts to affix NATO and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian areas partially occupied by Russian forces – calls for Kyiv has rejected.
Regardless of Trump’s push for fast talks, Moscow has not proven any rush to resolve the problem.
“There are not any deadlines, and there can’t be any. It’s clear that everybody desires to do that as rapidly as potential, however after all, the satan is within the particulars,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday, in line with Russian information companies.
Al Jazeera’s Yulia Shapovalova, reporting from Moscow, stated “not a lot” was agreed to in the course of the phone name when it comes to “concrete steps”.
“He (Putin) believes that the US – due to its affect – can resolve any issues,” she stated.
The conflict started in February 2022 after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A month later, Russia and Ukraine held talks in Turkiye, however they ended with none breakthrough.
Putin on Monday stated Ukraine had “thwarted” these talks, however Zelenskyy stated the 2022 negotiations fell aside as a result of Russia demanded Ukraine give up its long-range weaponry, make constitutional amendments to declare neutrality and concede Ukrainian territory that Russia captured throughout its invasion.
What else did Trump say?
“I consider it went very properly,” the US president stated after the decision with Putin.
Trump has been attempting to get via to his Russian counterpart since he returned to workplace in January. Monday marked the third prolonged name between the 2 presidents, and Trump has despatched his Center East envoy Steve Witkoff to fulfill Putin in Moscow a number of instances.
As for Trump’s relationship with Zelenskyy, it has usually been testy. Trump has accused the Ukrainian president of not wanting to finish the conflict. In February, he publicly berated Zelenskyy on the White Home for being “disrespectful” and “playing with World Warfare III”.
Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, US representatives met individually with Russian and Ukrainian officers in Saudi Arabia as a part of efforts to carry peace to Ukraine.
In a break with previous administrations, Trump has sought to revive ties with Russia. In February, delegations from the US and Russia met in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh to enhance their relations and transfer in direction of peace in Ukraine.
“President Trump approaches diplomacy and engages in a really transactional method with economics as the muse and driving drive behind worldwide affairs,” Keith Kellogg, Trump’s particular envoy for Russia and Ukraine, stated in March.
Putin has made commerce gives to Trump, saying in a state tv interview in February that he’s open to providing entry to uncommon earth minerals to Trump, together with from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.
The US president additionally wrote concerning the prospect of commerce with Russia and Ukraine after the ceasefire.
“Russia desires to do largescale TRADE with the USA when this catastrophic ‘massacre’ is over, and I agree. There’s a super alternative for Russia to create large quantities of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Likewise, Ukraine generally is a nice beneficiary on Commerce, within the means of rebuilding its Nation.”
“Simply accomplished my two hour name with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. I consider it went very properly…” –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/trznsLpKjF
— The White Home (@WhiteHouse) Might 19, 2025
Marina Miron, a postdoctoral researcher on the Defence Research Division at King’s School London, stated the “Trump administration will do no matter is within the US curiosity”.
“If it’s within the US curiosity to have higher relations with Russia than Ukraine, then that’s what’s going to occur,” she stated, explaining that there are numerous issues that the Individuals can focus on with the Russians, together with the Russian affect within the case of normalising relations with Iran.
“Ukraine doesn’t have that very same leverage,” she stated. The US “has gotten primarily what it wished from Ukraine”, referring to the minerals deal signed on April 30 that gave the US preferential entry to Ukraine’s mineral assets.
How did Zelenskyy react?
Zelenskyy stated he spoke to Trump twice on Monday. The primary was a one-on-one name with Trump, the Ukrainian chief posted on X, including that the second time was a gaggle name involving the European leaders.
“Originally of our bilateral dialog, I reaffirmed to President Trump that Ukraine is prepared for a full and unconditional ceasefire, as has spoken about, notably the USA,” Zelenskyy wrote. “It is necessary to not dilute this proposal.”
If Russia just isn’t prepared for a ceasefire, Zelenskyy wrote, sanctions on Russia ought to be scaled up. “Stress on Russia will push it towards actual peace – that is apparent to everybody all over the world.”
“Russia should finish the conflict it began, and it could possibly start doing so any day. Ukraine has at all times been prepared for peace.”
On Tuesday, the European Union and United Kingdom introduced sanctions in opposition to Russia after the Trump-Putin name ended with out a breakthrough.
Talking to reporters in Kyiv late on Monday, Zelenskyy stated he is able to signal a memorandum with Russia that comprises provisions for a ceasefire.
“There could possibly be a respective memorandum within the bilateral format, which can then result in a roadmap towards ending the conflict, that’s, towards a full settlement. This memorandum, supported by each international locations, would come with provisions for a ceasefire,” Zelenskyy stated.
I spoke with @POTUS twice at present. First, we had a one-on-one name earlier than his dialog with the top of Russia, and later we spoke along with President Trump and European leaders President @EmmanuelMacronPrime Minister @GiorgiaMeloniFederal Chancellor @Bundeskanzler,… pic.twitter.com/mm6a0Pro84
– Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelenskyy (@zelenskyyua) Might 19, 2025
The place does the EU stand?
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen have been on the second name between Trump and Zelenskyy.
“Along with European leaders, we additionally mentioned potential subsequent steps – particularly, conferences between negotiators and an goal evaluation of every facet’s proposals. Each proposal on the desk deserves an sincere analysis, that’s why the negotiation course of should contain each American and European representatives on the applicable degree,” Zelenskyy wrote in his X publish.
Ukraine has sought US involvement within the talks. Washington has been its largest weapons provider for the reason that Russian invasion and has additionally supplied Kyiv diplomatic help on the United Nations.
However the Trump administration doesn’t wish to present safety ensures to Ukraine and as an alternative desires European nations to step up their defence contributions.
On Monday, Merz wrote on X: “We are going to intently help Ukraine on its path towards a ceasefire.”
Meloni additionally expressed her help for “a direct begin of negotiations between the events that may result in a ceasefire as quickly as potential”.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has expressed readiness to host direct talks between Russia and Ukraine. “The Holy Father’s willingness to host the talks on the Vatican was thought-about optimistic. Italy is able to do its half to facilitate contacts and work for peace,” Meloni wrote.
What’s subsequent?
Moreover the Vatican, Zelenskyy wrote that Turkiye and Switzerland are additionally being thought-about as venues for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
“Contacts amongst individuals of the Istanbul assembly and talks have resumed, which supplies purpose to consider that we’re heading in the right direction total,” Putin stated on Monday.
Trump informed reporters later that day that he anticipated there to be progress within the talks, but when there have been no progress, he was “simply going to again away.”
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Trump has “grown weary and annoyed with either side of the battle”. Nonetheless, she didn’t specify whether or not Trump had given Russia and Ukraine a deadline for the subsequent steps.
Zelenskyy has known as for continued US engagement to resolve the battle, including that it’s essential the US “doesn’t distance itself” from the talks.
However Miron from King’s School, stated she “expects the American facet to take a extra passive stance in direction of this (Ukraine-Russia conflict) because the Europeans try to get entangled or attempting to help Ukraine”.
“Except the US pursuits are at stake, I don’t suppose that he’s (Trump’s) going to come back again. He’ll, or his administration will, in all probability solely intervene if it sees a profit for the Individuals. … They produce other issues to resolve.”
