Trump CALLS Putin – Ceasefire Hopes RISE

President Trump announces a high-stakes call with Vladimir Putin for Monday, seeking to end the Ukraine war as diplomatic efforts intensify against the backdrop of continued violence.

At a Glance

  • Trump scheduled a 10 AM Monday call with Putin to address the Ukraine “bloodbath” that’s claiming 5,000 soldiers weekly
  • The call follows stalled Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul that yielded only a prisoner exchange agreement
  • Trump plans subsequent conversations with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and NATO members
  • Russia demands Ukrainian territorial concessions and NATO abstention, terms Ukraine rejects as unacceptable
  • A Russian drone attack killed nine Ukrainian civilians hours after the Istanbul talks, highlighting ongoing hostilities

Trump’s Peace Initiative Amid Escalating Violence

Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday morning in a bold diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine. The high-level call comes as violence continues to plague the region, with Trump specifically citing the alarming casualty rates as a primary concern. According to the former president, the conflict is claiming approximately 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers weekly, a death toll he described as a “bloodbath” that must be stopped.

The call, scheduled for 10 AM Monday, will address both the humanitarian crisis and trade issues between the nations. Trump’s intervention comes immediately following direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul that failed to produce significant results beyond a prisoner exchange agreement. Despite these setbacks, Trump has expressed confidence in his ability to make progress where others have stalled.

Complex Diplomatic Framework and Demands

Trump’s diplomatic strategy extends beyond his conversation with Putin. Following the call with the Russian leader, Trump will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and then engage with various NATO members. This multi-pronged approach suggests a comprehensive effort to build consensus among key stakeholders in the conflict. The talks come at a critical moment when direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have reached an impasse on central issues.

“I will then be speaking to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and then, with President Zelenskyy, various members of NATO. Hopefully, it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end. God bless us all!!!”, added Donald J. Trump.

Russia has presented peace proposals that Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers unacceptable. Moscow demands Ukrainian withdrawal from four regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – and insists Ukraine adopt a neutral stance, forsaking NATO membership. Additionally, Russia seeks recognition of its ownership of these contested territories and Crimea. These demands effectively require Ukraine to cede significant portions of its internationally recognized territory.

Continued Violence Undermines Peace Efforts

The urgency of Trump’s diplomatic initiative is underscored by ongoing violence. Just hours after the Istanbul talks concluded, a Russian drone attack struck a civilian bus in Ukraine’s Sumy region, killing nine passengers. Ukrainian authorities described the incident as a “cynical war crime,” while Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed the attack targeted military equipment. This deadly strike exemplifies the challenges facing any peace process as hostilities continue unabated.

“The subjects of the call will be stopping the ‘bloodbath’ that is killing, on average, more than 5000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade,” Trump wrote.

Trump has expressed confidence in his ability to reach an agreement with Putin, citing their previous relationship. However, he has also mentioned potential economic pressure tactics, including reducing oil prices and imposing new sanctions if diplomatic efforts fail. “We’ll see what happens… It will be crushing for Russia because they’re having a hard time with the economy,” Trump stated, outlining his fallback strategy should direct negotiations prove unsuccessful.

Diplomatic Progress Amid Skepticism

While a prisoner exchange agreement represents a modest achievement from the Istanbul talks, broader peace remains elusive. The prisoner swap is expected to involve approximately 1,000 prisoners of war and will likely occur before the next scheduled round of negotiations. Moscow has not officially commented on Trump’s upcoming call with Putin, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously indicated openness to a Putin-Zelensky meeting if preliminary peace talks progress sufficiently.

Ukrainian officials remain skeptical of Russia’s intentions, particularly in light of continued attacks on civilians. President Zelenskyy has called for tougher sanctions following the Sumy region bus attack, emphasizing that increased pressure on Russia is necessary to force genuine diplomatic engagement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the bus attack as a “deliberate and barbaric war crime,” further complicating the atmosphere heading into Monday’s high-level discussions.

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