The call between Trump and President Putin comes days after the Russian president refused to attend the peace negotiations set for May 15 in Ukraine Voldy Mie Zelensky and Turkey
President Trump leaves the Middle East with plans to meet Putin
President Trump has left the Middle East as talks began between Ukraine and Russia. He said he would soon meet President Vladimir Putin.
- Trump said the Vatican offered to host consultations aimed at stopping the war after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said peace talks will begin “quickly” after a two-hour call with Vladimir Putin, after Russian counterparts refused to attend negotiations with Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky on May 15.
“I think it worked very well,” Trump told social media about the May 19 call. “The negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will begin soon.”
Trump said Pope Leo XIV has offered to host talks at the Vatican.
“Russia and Ukraine will soon begin negotiations towards a ceasefire and, more importantly, the end of the war,” Trump said. “Let’s start the process!”
Putin thanked Trump for encouraging peace talks
Putin thanked Trump for supporting the resumption of in-person talks between Moscow and Kiev. Putin said Trump pointed to support Russia’s support for peace, but the key issue was how to move towards peace.
“We agreed with the US President that Russia is ready to work with the Ukrainian side in a memorandum of understanding on the possibility of a future peace agreement, suggesting that it defines many positions, such as the principles of settlement, the timing of possible peace agreements, and so on.”
Trump tweaks Putin, Zelensky and talk
Trump has put pressure on both sides to accept a ceasefire and peace agreement to end the war that began in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. Zelenskyy supports a 30-day ceasefire, but Putin said he hopes to have discussions to confirm details of the ceasefire first.
Ukraine and Russia negotiated in Türkiye, which concluded on May 16th. It was the first time the two had engaged in consultations since the early weeks of the war. They agreed to the prisoners’ exchange and continued their argument.
Putin sent a team of negotiators upstairs to peace negotiations, driving the challenge of meeting Zelensky’s challenge in person. Trump told reporters last week he didn’t expect any progress until “Putin and I come together.”
After leaning heavily towards Ukraine and joining Vice President JD Vance in a clash with Zelensky at an oval office meeting in February, Trump has been increasingly impatience with Putin in recent weeks, threatening additional sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, both Trump and Vance met Zelensky in person on a trip to Rome last month.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said on May 19 that Trump is “tired and irritated on both sides of the conflict.” US officials suggest that without progress they could be able to move away from negotiations.
Former Vice President Mike Pence told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in an interview aired on May 18 that Putin only understands strength and that it’s time for Trump to become tough with Russia.
“President Zelensky agrees to a ceasefire…and Vladimir Putin calls a meeting where he will not appear,” Pence said. “So I’m honestly saying it’s time for President Trump to impose harsh sanctions on Russia and increase military support for Ukraine.”
Contribution: Reuters
