Following a two-hour conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, President Trump indicated that Russia and Ukraine would begin ceasefire negotiations. The U.S. stated the call was intended to encourage Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
Both Trump and Putin characterized the call positively, with Putin describing it as “frank” and “useful.” The specific outcomes of the call remain unclear.
Trump posted on social media that the call went “very well” and stated, “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.”
He added, “The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.”
Putin also mentioned the possibility of “a ceasefire with Ukraine” in a statement after the call, emphasizing the need to “find compromises that suit both sides.”
Despite negotiation attempts in Turkey on Friday, concrete details about potential compromises are still vague. Trump postponed those talks, stating the need to negotiate with Putin first.
The ceasefire talks in Turkey broke down after the Ukrainian delegation deemed the demands from the Russian delegation “unacceptable.” These demands reportedly included the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia: Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
The Russian delegation allegedly also demanded international recognition of these regions as Russian territory and a cessation of aid to Ukraine, including peacekeeping forces after the conflict.
Trump said he promptly informed not only but also European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, none of whom immediately responded to Digital’s requests for comment nor have they pubically made statements about the call.
Trump also mentioned that “the Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations.”
“Let the process begin,” he added, despite U.S.-mediated negotiations between Ukraine and Russia having started in March.
The Vatican has not yet responded to Digital’s inquiries. However, on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV posted on X, stating, “The Holy See is willing to help enemies meet, so they may look each other in the eye and so people may be given back the dignity they deserve: the dignity of peace.”
“With heart in hand, I say to the leaders of nations: let us meet; let us dialogue; let us negotiate!” he added.
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