U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday his plans to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and NATO allies in a renewed attempt to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which he described as a “bloodbath.”
Trump shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he intends to make these calls on Monday, hoping to negotiate a ceasefire. “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,” he wrote.
Read more: Putin and Trump to Miss Ukraine Peace Talks Proposed by Russian Leader
This announcement follows the first direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in over three years, held in Istanbul, which concluded without a ceasefire agreement. The meeting resulted only in a prisoner exchange deal of 1,000 captives from each side, without progress on halting hostilities. President Putin was notably absent from the talks, sending a lower-level delegation instead, a move criticized by Zelenskyy, who accused Russia of not taking peace efforts seriously.
After the talks, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov expressed hope for a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such a meeting would only happen after “certain results” are achieved through negotiations.
On the battlefield, violence continues. A Russian drone strike hit a bus in the northern Sumy region of Ukraine on Saturday, killing nine civilians, including a family of three, according to local officials. Zelenskyy condemned the attack as a “cynical war crime,” stressing that the Russians deliberately targeted civilians. Seven others were injured and are receiving medical care.
Ukraine’s National Police condemned the drone strike as “barbaric.” Zelenskyy called for tougher international sanctions on Russia, warning that without stronger pressure, Moscow will avoid serious diplomacy.
As the war enters its third year, Trump’s announcement signals his desire to engage directly in peace negotiations if he returns to power. He has previously claimed he could end the conflict “within 24 hours,” although many remain skeptical about the practicality and fairness of his plan.
Neither Russian nor Ukrainian officials have officially responded to Trump’s latest statement. The Kremlin insists any peace deal must include recognition of territorial changes Russia claims since 2014, a demand Ukraine continues to reject.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the war has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions. United Nations estimates place civilian fatalities above 30,000, with the actual number likely higher.
While NATO and the European Union remain committed to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, divisions persist among Western nations over military aid and the best approach to a long-term diplomatic solution.
