President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday as the administration pushes to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The planned discussion comes after Ukraine expressed interest in accepting a U.S.-proposed 30-day cease-fire, though Russia remains hesitant.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated that significant diplomatic efforts have been made over the weekend, and he hopes Tuesday’s conversation with Putin will lead to progress.
“We’re doing pretty well, I think, with Russia. We’ll see if we have something to announce maybe by Tuesday,” Trump told reporters. “A lot of work’s been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end. Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance.”
The Kremlin confirmed that the two leaders will speak but declined to disclose the details of their discussion.
Cease-Fire Proposal and Russia’s Demands
The U.S.-proposed cease-fire, which Ukraine has indicated it is willing to accept, calls for a 30-day unconditional pause in hostilities. However, Russia has introduced additional demands, including a total halt on foreign military aid to Ukraine and Kyiv’s formal relinquishment of the Russian-occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated he will not agree to territorial concessions, making Russia’s counterproposal a major sticking point in negotiations.
Trump suggested that his discussion with Putin would involve possible compromises, mentioning ongoing talks about “dividing up certain assets,” including land and power plants. The exact nature of those negotiations remains unclear.
Strained U.S.-Ukraine Relations Improving
Trump’s upcoming call with Putin follows a period of tension between the U.S. and Ukraine. Last month, a heated dispute between Zelensky and Trump during a White House meeting led to the U.S. temporarily halting military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
However, diplomatic relations appear to be improving after a recent high-level meeting in Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine signaled willingness to engage in negotiations. As a result, the Trump administration agreed to lift its pause on military aid and intelligence.
Russia’s Position on Cease-Fire
While Moscow has not yet accepted the cease-fire terms proposed by the U.S., there are signs that Putin may be open to an agreement.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who met with Putin last Thursday, described their conversation as a “solution-based discussion.” In an interview with CNN, Witkoff suggested that Putin is warming to the idea of a pause in hostilities.
“The Russian leader has indicated that he accepts the philosophy of President Trump in wanting to see the war end,” Witkoff said, adding that a temporary cease-fire could be reached within weeks.
Putin himself recently commented on the state of negotiations, acknowledging that diplomatic efforts are moving forward.
“Overall, the situation is starting to move,” Putin said Friday. “Let’s see what comes out of this.”
The Russian leader also noted that he hopes to rebuild relations with the U.S., which he claimed were “destroyed” under the Biden administration.
What’s Next?
Trump’s conversation with Putin on Tuesday could mark a pivotal moment in the effort to bring about a cease-fire in Ukraine. With Ukraine on board with a temporary truce and Russia still weighing its response, much will depend on what the two leaders discuss and whether any compromises can be reached.
For now, the world watches as the latest round of high-stakes diplomacy unfolds.
