Russia and Ukraine may soon begin talks to stop the war, said U.S. President Donald Trump. He made this statement after a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The news was reported by BBC on Tuesday, May 20. Trump called the phone call with Putin “very productive.” He said both sides will decide the peace terms through direct talks.
Trump is hopeful that peace talks will begin soon. However, there is no clear sign yet of a full ceasefire or peace deal. Still, Putin said Russia is ready to work with Ukraine to reach a possible peace agreement in the future.
Zelensky also said the talks are “an important moment.” He asked that the United States not stay away from this process. He made it clear that decisions about peace must not be made without Ukraine’s input.
Though Trump sounded positive about the call with Putin, he did not give a date or time for when the talks might begin. Putin also did not comment on the 30-day ceasefire demand made by the U.S. and European nations.
After speaking with Trump, Zelensky said Ukraine hopes for a full and unconditional ceasefire. But he warned that if Moscow is not ready to talk seriously, stronger sanctions should be placed on Russia.
Earlier, Zelensky had warned that no deal should be made without Ukraine. He said peace talks are a matter of national policy for his country. He also said he has not seen any detailed peace plan yet. But if Russia does send a proposal, Ukraine will respond with its clear views.
Trump later posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, about the phone call. He wrote that the conversation with Putin was “excellent.” He also said Ukraine and Russia will soon begin talks for a ceasefire. More importantly, he wrote, both sides are ready to end the war.
He added that he shared this update with Zelensky in a second phone call. In that call, some other world leaders also joined the discussion.
The war between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022. That was when Moscow launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine. Since then, the conflict has caused thousands of deaths, forced millions to flee their homes, and damaged cities across Ukraine.
World leaders have long called for peace. The war has also caused global problems, like high food prices and energy shortages. The hope now is that this new effort for talks may lead to peace.
Many experts say the road to peace is still very hard. Trust between Russia and Ukraine is low. Past efforts at peace have failed. But this new sign of talks is being seen as a small step in the right direction.
Some leaders in Europe and the United States say they will support the peace talks. But they also say the process must be fair. Ukraine’s rights and safety must be protected.
For now, people across the world are watching closely. The next few weeks will show whether Russia and Ukraine are truly ready to talk. If they do, it could be the first big step toward ending a war that has lasted over two years.
