Washington – U.S. President Donald Trump described his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "very good," stating that efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war are progressing. The conversation came a day after Trump’s discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which focused on de-escalating hostilities in the region.
Diplomatic Efforts for Ceasefire
The hour-long conversation between Trump and Zelensky was aimed at reviewing the outcomes of Trump’s prior discussions with Putin. According to a statement from the White House, Trump is working to align the demands of both Russia and Ukraine in hopes of moving toward a peaceful resolution.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to share insights from the call, stating, “Much of the discussion was about aligning both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs.” This marks the first major discussion between Trump and Zelensky since their last tense meeting at the White House.
Putin’s Conditional Moratorium on Attacks
During Trump’s earlier call with Putin, the Russian leader agreed to a partial ceasefire, promising not to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. However, he refused to commit to a full 30-day ceasefire, a condition Kyiv has been pushing for.
Zelensky, however, dismissed Putin’s pledge, stating that Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure continued despite the promise. “Even last night, after Putin’s conversation with Trump, when Putin said he was stopping strikes on Ukrainian energy, 150 drones were launched overnight, including on energy facilities,” Zelensky said at a press conference in Helsinki alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Rising Tensions Amid Peace Talks
Despite Trump’s diplomatic push, hostilities remain high. Russian missile and drone attacks continued to hit Ukrainian cities, and in response, Ukraine reportedly targeted an oil depot in southern Russia. The Kremlin accused Ukraine of deliberately trying to undermine the ceasefire talks, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating, “These attacks are countering our common efforts toward peace.”
While Washington has characterized Trump’s engagement with Putin as a “step toward peace,” there has been no indication that Putin is willing to withdraw Russian forces from occupied Ukrainian territories. Kyiv remains firm in its position, stating that any peace deal must involve a complete Russian withdrawal.
The Road Ahead
As diplomatic efforts continue, both the U.S. and European allies are pushing to accelerate military aid to Ukraine, ensuring it remains equipped in case negotiations stall. The success of Trump's mediation efforts remains uncertain, with analysts suggesting that reaching a long-term ceasefire will require more concessions from both sides.
While Trump has expressed optimism about the ceasefire talks, the situation on the ground suggests a prolonged path to a diplomatic resolution, with both Ukraine and Russia remaining deeply entrenched in their positions.
