U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to engage in separate discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, with the intention of halting the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This effort is part of a broader strategy by Washington to facilitate peace negotiations. Trump’s outreach occurs amid growing concerns about the prolonged hostilities and the humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict.
The discussions will focus on multiple issues, including trade and the cessation of hostilities, in an effort to prevent further loss of life among Russian and Ukrainian forces. The dialogue with Putin is set to occur at 5 p.m. Moscow time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time) and will consider the results of the recent negotiations held in Istanbul. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that these talks are influenced by the developments from the Istanbul meeting, where representatives from Russia and Ukraine met directly for the first time since 2022.
Although the Istanbul talks led to an agreement on prisoner exchanges, they fell short of advancing a comprehensive peace agreement. Efforts to conclude the three-year conflict have stalled despite the U.S.’s active involvement and Trump’s commitment to achieving peace. The threat of U.S. withdrawal from diplomatic engagement has raised concerns about the potential reduction of crucial military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
President Trump, who has revived relations with Russia after a period of strain under the previous administration, has shown a shift in his stance by considering additional sanctions on Moscow. He also supports a call for a 30-day ceasefire backed by Ukraine and European nations. However, a lasting peace remains elusive amid Russia’s demands and Ukraine’s resistance to territorial concessions.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism about the peace plan presented by the U.S., emphasizing the importance of taking advantage of the opportunities created by the prisoner exchange agreement. He noted that both Russian and Ukrainian sides are expected to prepare documents outlining their terms for a ceasefire, which could pave the way for broader negotiations.
Nevertheless, there are indications of Washington’s waning patience with the stagnating peace process. Rubio highlighted the necessity for tangible progress to avoid endless discussions without result. On Sunday, Zelenskyy met with Rubio and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, expressing dissatisfaction with the low-level Russian delegation at the Istanbul talks and reaffirming Ukraine’s readiness for serious diplomatic engagements.
European leaders, feeling somewhat marginalized in the peace efforts, have sought to engage more closely with the U.S. In a call on Sunday, officials from the UK, Italy, France, and Germany discussed the need for an unconditional ceasefire and urged Putin to approach the peace talks earnestly. They also considered the potential implementation of sanctions should Russia fail to actively participate in achieving a ceasefire.
