President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine would begin immediate negotiations to end their war following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, in the most concrete sign yet of a potential diplomatic opening.
“Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
“The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties… because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.”
Trump said he had briefed European leaders on the call and that the Vatican had offered to host the proposed peace talks.
He described the conversation with Putin as having a “tone and spirit” that were “excellent.”
Moscow hints at framework for deal
Speaking to reporters in Sochi, Putin described the call as “frank” and “very useful,” saying both sides agreed to begin working on a memorandum that would outline “principles of a settlement,” timelines for a possible peace agreement, and terms for a potential ceasefire “if appropriate agreements are reached.”
While Putin gave no specific conditions for such a deal, he reiterated that Moscow’s priority remained addressing what he called the “root causes” of the conflict.
He noted that the recent resumption of direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul after a three-year pause showed the process was “on the right track.”
White House signals conditional patience
Trump’s Vice President, JD Vance, speaking earlier during a trip to Italy, said the president would challenge Putin’s sincerity on ending the war.
“Are you serious? Are you real about this?” Vance said, describing what Trump would convey to the Russian leader.
“Honestly, President Putin doesn’t quite know how to get out of the war.”
Vance acknowledged a diplomatic impasse and cautioned that US support would not be indefinite.
“If Russia is not willing to do that, then we’re eventually just going to say, ‘This is not our war.’ We’re going to try to end it, but if we can’t… that was worth a try, but we’re not doing any more.’”
The US presses both sides
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump remained committed to a ceasefire but had grown “weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict.”
When asked whether secondary sanctions against Russia were still under consideration, she said: “I think everything’s on the table.”
Trump has already held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and is expected to speak with him again later Monday, along with consultations involving NATO allies.
This marks the third publicly disclosed call between Trump and Putin since Trump returned to the White House in January.
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