US President Donald Trump has announced plans to discuss potential resolutions for the ongoing Ukraine conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call scheduled for Monday.
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During a recent trip to the Gulf, Mr. Trump had extended an invitation to meet in Turkey, contingent upon Mr. Putin’s attendance. However, the Russian leader declined the offer.
The US president has been actively urging both President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reach a ceasefire agreement in the protracted three-year conflict. In a post on Truth Social, Trump indicated that he would also connect with President Zelensky and NATO officials following his conversation with Putin.
In a recent peace talk in Istanbul, Russian representatives made demands for Ukrainian troops to withdraw from all territories claimed by Russia before agreeing to a ceasefire, according to a senior Ukrainian official familiar with the discussions. The Kremlin, however, chose to remain silent about the terms proposed during the meeting—the first in-person negotiations since March 2022, shortly after Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine.
The brief talks lasted about one hour and 40 minutes, culminating in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war on both sides. However, no timeline has been established for this exchange.
Shortly before these negotiations, a devastating drone strike claimed the lives of nine bus passengers in northeastern Ukraine, prompting President Zelensky to call for harsher sanctions against Russia. “All the deceased were civilians,” he stated on X, condemning the attack as “a deliberate killing of civilians.” The Ukrainian police released haunting images of a nearly destroyed passenger van, symbolizing the tragic loss of innocent lives.
Mr. Zelensky urged for stronger pressure on Russia to halt the violence, declaring, “Without tougher sanctions, without stronger pressure, Russia will not seek real diplomacy.”
Read More: What to make of the Istanbul talks | Latest Ukraine stories
He described the Russian delegation at the Istanbul talks as “weak and unprepared,” emphasizing the necessity for substantial actions to cease the war. “We expect strong sanctions against Russia from the United States, Europe, and all our partners. Diplomacy must begin to function effectively,” he asserted.
US President Trump, advocating for peace talks, suggested that “nothing could happen” until he met directly with President Putin. In Islamabad, British Foreign Minister David Lammy noted the lack of seriousness from Russia following the Istanbul discussions, stating, “We are witnessing obfuscation on the Russian side and their unwillingness to pursue genuine peace in Ukraine.” He posed a critical question: “At what point do we say to Putin: enough is enough?”
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed disapproval of the results from the Istanbul meetings, remarking, “Today, what do we have? Nothing.” He expressed confidence that President Trump would respond to the situation, highlighting the need for accountability.
Earlier in the week, Mr. Zelensky had challenged Mr. Putin to meet in person, an invitation that was disregarded. However, during the Istanbul discussions, the potential for such a meeting was addressed. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggested that a meeting might be feasible, but only if progress towards agreements could be achieved.
“It remains critical for us to understand who will be signing these documents from the Ukrainian side,” Peskov emphasized, avoiding further details. Notably, Mr. Putin has previously questioned Mr. Zelensky’s legitimacy as president due to the expiration of his term last year.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones targeted an ammunition depot in Crimea—an area occupied by Russia—resulting in a large explosion at a warehouse storing military supplies. A source within Ukraine’s security service reported that the depot, belonging to Russia’s Coastal Defence brigade, was located in Perevalne on the Black Sea peninsula, which has been under Russian control since 2014.
“Through constructive dialogue and international solidarity, we hope to pave the way for genuine diplomacy,” concluded President Zelensky.
