Trump plans calls with Russian and Ukrainian leaders following Turkey talks

Sunday 18 May 2025 - 15:08

By: Zahouani Ilham

Trump plans calls with Russian and Ukrainian leaders following Turkey talks

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he intends to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday, after recent negotiations in Turkey. These talks marked the first direct meeting between the two sides since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.

According to a senior Ukrainian official, Russian negotiators presented new demands, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from several contested regions, as a precondition for any ceasefire agreement. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed preparations for a conversation between Putin and Trump.

Trump stated on social media that the discussions would focus on ending the ongoing conflict, which he described as a "bloodbath" costing thousands of lives weekly, and on trade matters. Following the call with Putin, Trump plans to speak with Zelenskiy and NATO representatives, expressing hope for a productive dialogue that could lead to a ceasefire and the end of the war.

The recent talks in Turkey lasted less than two hours and resulted in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners on each side, though no timeline was set. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy demanded stronger sanctions against Russia after a drone attack killed civilians in the Sumy region, which Russia denies targeting.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov highlighted positive U.S. involvement in facilitating ongoing negotiations. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio mentioned that Russia is working on conditions to advance ceasefire talks, while the Vatican was proposed as a possible venue for future discussions.

Despite international calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, Moscow insists on Ukrainian troop withdrawals from key areas before agreeing to halt hostilities. The Kremlin maintains secrecy about the details of the talks but signals possible future meetings between Putin and Zelenskiy if certain agreements are reached.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his country's commitment to mediating the conflict following the recent diplomatic efforts hosted in Turkey.