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U.S. President Donald Trump Plans Calls with Putin and Zelenskiy Amid Ongoing Conflict
ISTANBUL: On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would hold conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday, following recent discussions between their teams. A Ukrainian official reported that Russia’s negotiators brought new demands to the table before a ceasefire could be reached.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that preparations were being made for the call between Putin and Trump.
These talks in Turkey on Friday marked the first direct discussions between the parties since March 2022, shortly after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
A senior Ukrainian official involved in the negotiations indicated that Russian representatives insisted on Ukraine’s withdrawal from all territories claimed by Moscow before agreeing to a ceasefire.
Trump shared on Truth Social that he would speak with Putin at 10 AM Eastern Time (1400 GMT) on Monday. He emphasized that the focus of their conversation would be on halting the "bloodbath" that claims more than 5,000 lives of soldiers from both sides each week, as well as discussing trade matters.
Afterward, Trump intended to speak with Zelenskiy and various NATO officials. "I hope it will be a fruitful day, leading to a ceasefire and an end to this violent war, which should never have occurred," he stated.
While in the Gulf last week, Trump expressed his willingness to travel to Turkey for discussions if Putin would also come. However, Putin opted to send a negotiating team instead.
Trump has been advocating for both Putin and Zelenskiy to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, now more than three years old.
The Kremlin refrained from commenting on the terms presented by Russia during Friday’s meeting. The discussions lasted just one hour and 40 minutes and resulted in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each side, though the timing of this exchange has not been disclosed.
On Saturday, Zelenskiy called for stronger sanctions on Moscow following a Russian drone strike that killed nine bus passengers in northeastern Ukraine’s Sumy region. "This was a premeditated attack on civilians," he asserted. "We must exert pressure on Russia to stop these killings. Without stricter sanctions and increased pressure, Russia will not pursue genuine diplomacy."
Russia, which contests claims of targeting civilians, stated it had hit a military site in Sumy. Additionally, Russia’s defense ministry announced that its forces had captured another settlement in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke via phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, commending the "positive role" of the U.S. in facilitating talks between Russia and Ukraine. According to a statement from the Russian foreign ministry, Lavrov indicated that discussions would carry on.
Rubio relayed during a CBS interview that Lavrov mentioned the Russians were "developing ideas and requirements for moving forward with a ceasefire and further negotiations." He added, “Are they just stringing us along? Well, that’s what we’re trying to determine."
Previously in Rome, Rubio suggested the Vatican as a potential location for future Russia-Ukraine dialogue, describing it as a "generous offer that might be accepted."
Urgent Call for Immediate Ceasefire
Ukraine and its Western allies, including the United States, have insisted that Russia agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire lasting at least 30 days.
However, the Ukrainian source disclosed that Moscow’s negotiators insisted on withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Luhansk regions before a ceasefire could be established. This demand, among others, exceeded the terms of a peace proposal the U.S. had put forward the previous month after discussions with Moscow.
Peskov declined to comment on the Ukrainian account, insisting that negotiations must remain "strictly confidential." He did mention that the next steps involve executing the prisoner exchange and further dialogue between both parties. Furthermore, he noted that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy could occur if "certain agreements" are reached, although he did not specify what those agreements would entail.
Earlier in the week, Zelenskiy had challenged Putin to meet him in person, an offer that went unanswered.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan indicated his country’s commitment to continue mediating after hosting the talks.
Ukraine Activates Support Network
Following the meetings, Ukraine began to rally its allies for increased action against Moscow. "Once again, Russia is not serious," British Foreign Secretary David Lammy remarked during a visit to Pakistan. "At what point do we tell Putin that enough is enough?"
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed disappointment that the discussions in Istanbul had produced no results. "What did we achieve? Nothing. I trust that President Trump, aware of the U.S. credibility, will respond accordingly."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU is formulating a new sanctions package intended to "suffocate" the Russian economy, although after over three years of intensified sanctions, it remains unclear what further impact they can have.
As Ukraine and European leaders strive for a united stance to make Putin agree to a ceasefire, they have frequently faced disruptions due to Trump’s interventions. Trump had previously advised Zelenskiy to accept Russia’s proposal for direct talks in Turkey and implied that no progress could be made on peace until he had met with Putin.
The Kremlin stated that while Putin is open to meeting Trump, such a summit requires thorough preparation. They also emphasized that no further communication between Russia and the U.S. has occurred since Friday’s discussions.
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