Trump: Russia, Ukraine ready to start ceasefire talks

International

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has announced hat Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin negotiations toward a ceasefire and a potential resolution to the ongoing conflict, following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a BBC report, Trump described the conversation as having gone “very well” and emphasized that peace terms would need to be determined by both nations. He also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, informing him of the plan to proceed with talks.

Despite Trump’s optimism, no formal ceasefire has been declared. Putin signaled willingness to draft a “memorandum on a possible future peace agreement,” while Zelensky called the moment “defining,” urging the United States not to step back from its involvement.

Zelensky reiterated his call for a “full and unconditional ceasefire” and emphasized the need for strong sanctions should Moscow fail to engage sincerely. He also stressed the importance of including U.S. and European representatives in any negotiation process.

At a later White House event, Trump reaffirmed the U.S. would act as a facilitator in the talks but added he had a “red line in his head” regarding the extent of direct involvement.

A similar report by The Guardian noted that international observers remain cautious, viewing the announcement as a diplomatic step but not a definitive move toward de-escalation. Analysts stressed that previous ceasefire efforts have failed to produce long-term results.(John Clyron Matillano, CTU-TC)