President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday morning to discuss efforts to halt the bloodshed in Ukraine’s war.
The call is scheduled for 10 a.m. Eastern Time and will address the ongoing violence that reportedly results in over 5,000 casualties weekly among Russian and Ukrainian forces.
Trump’s announcement came after recent peace talks in Istanbul-the first direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in three years-failed to produce a ceasefire. Russian officials insisted Ukraine must withdraw troops from all Russian-claimed territories before any ceasefire could be considered.
In addition to his call with Putin, Trump said he will also speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and various NATO leaders. He expressed optimism that these discussions might lead to a ceasefire and an end to the conflict, which he described as a “very violent war” that should never have started.
Trump had previously offered to attend the Istanbul talks if Putin agreed, but the offer was declined. His renewed diplomatic efforts highlight his commitment to ending the war as part of his broader political agenda.
