Former President Donald Trump announced he will reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday to engage in discussions aimed at ceasing the "bloodbath" in Ukraine. Scheduled for 10:00 EDT (14:00 GMT), the conversation is expected to tackle ways to stop the escalation of violence. Following his dialogue with Putin, Trump intends to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders from NATO countries.
Trump to Call Putin on Monday to Discuss Halting Ukraine Conflict
Trump to Call Putin on Monday to Discuss Halting Ukraine Conflict
Trump plans a call with Putin to address the ongoing violence in Ukraine, aiming for peace talks with Zelensky and NATO leaders.
Despite recent face-to-face talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul resulting in a prisoner swap, no significant progress was made towards resolving the conflict. Trump had expressed a willingness to join the discussions in Turkey if Putin participated, but this was declined. On Thursday, Trump proposed that substantial advancements in peace talks could only occur through direct meetings with Putin.
His message on Saturday reflected hopeful sentiments: "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." NATO leaders have been advocating for a 30-day ceasefire, while Ukraine has reiterated its demands for a full and unconditional cessation of hostilities.
The aftermath of the Istanbul talks saw Zelensky react strongly to a Russian drone attack that struck a passenger bus in the Sumy region, killing nine civilians, calling it "a deliberate killing of civilians." While Russian officials remain tight-lipped regarding the attack, state media claims it targeted a military staging area. The conflict, sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, continues to draw international attention as leaders push for peace negotiations.
His message on Saturday reflected hopeful sentiments: "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." NATO leaders have been advocating for a 30-day ceasefire, while Ukraine has reiterated its demands for a full and unconditional cessation of hostilities.
The aftermath of the Istanbul talks saw Zelensky react strongly to a Russian drone attack that struck a passenger bus in the Sumy region, killing nine civilians, calling it "a deliberate killing of civilians." While Russian officials remain tight-lipped regarding the attack, state media claims it targeted a military staging area. The conflict, sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, continues to draw international attention as leaders push for peace negotiations.
