Trump-Putin Phone Call is Underway, White House Official Says/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Trump’s call with Putin aims to broker a Ukraine ceasefire. The U.S. president shows frustration with both sides. Aid talks, sanctions, and prisoner exchanges also top the agenda.
Ukraine Ceasefire Push Quick Looks
- Trump holds direct talks with Putin to end Ukraine war.
- White House says Trump is “frustrated” with both Putin and Zelenskyy.
- VP JD Vance signals U.S. could step away from talks if no progress.
- Trump’s “deal maker” image on the line as war continues.
- White House staff confirms the call began at 10 a.m. ET.
- Putin and Trump reportedly discussing trade, ceasefire, and hostages.
- Trump faces criticism for being soft on Russia and pressuring Ukraine.
- 1,000 POWs set for exchange, despite ceasefire breakdown.
- European leaders align with Trump’s push for a 30-day ceasefire.
- Kremlin launches largest drone attack on Ukraine since 2022.
Deep Look: Trump, Putin Talk as U.S. Pushes Ukraine Ceasefire Amid Frustration
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2025 — President Donald Trump began a high-stakes call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, launching a renewed diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine. According to the White House, Trump is increasingly “frustrated” with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over stalled ceasefire progress, raising pressure for breakthroughs in negotiations that have so far failed to produce results.
Trump called the day “critical” for peace, posting on social media that he hoped for “a productive day” to bring an end to the bloodshed. The outreach includes coordinated efforts with NATO leaders and a follow-up call with Zelenskyy.
Trump has started phone calls on Ukraine ceasefire with a conversation with Zelensky, Ukrainian presidency says
Trump held a phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, according to the Ukrainian presidency. Trump had been expected to start his diplomacy on Monday with a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the Trump-Putin conversation began shortly after 10 a.m. ET, describing it as “essential given last week’s Istanbul talks,” where Ukrainian and Russian delegations met for the first time since March 2022.
Trump’s campaign promise to swiftly end the Russia-Ukraine war has become a defining foreign policy test. Despite assurances of a “deal-maker” approach, the war continues unabated, challenging Trump’s credibility on global diplomacy.
“He’s grown weary and frustrated with both sides,” Leavitt stated Monday. “The president has urged both leaders to act in good faith toward a peaceful resolution.”
Vance: U.S. Will Walk Away If Talks Stall
Vice President JD Vance emphasized that the United States won’t continue pushing for peace indefinitely. Speaking to reporters after a diplomatic trip to Rome, Vance said Trump is “more than open to walking away” if Putin refuses to negotiate seriously.
“We’re not here to spin our wheels,” Vance said. “We want outcomes, not just optics.”
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff echoed the administration’s confidence, saying the president believes a direct phone call will help “break the logjam.”
Trump’s Diplomacy Faces Skepticism
Trump’s approach, centered on personal diplomacy, has drawn criticism from former officials and allies of Ukraine. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said she resigned due to policies that, in her view, unfairly pressured Ukraine while appeasing Russia.
She recalled a February Oval Office meeting where Trump and his aides reportedly chastised Zelenskyy for being “insufficiently deferential.” Brink warned that pushing for “peace at any price” would embolden aggressors.
“Appeasement isn’t peace,” she said. “It only leads to more war.”
Trump: Putin Must Prove He Wants Peace
In his Truth Social post, Trump said the war needs to end before more blood is shed, hinting at the possibility of using economic levers like trade and sanctions to incentivize Russia.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press that Trump is prepared to impose new sanctions if Putin fails to show sincerity.
Bessent criticized the Biden-era sanctions, saying they allowed Russia to continue generating oil revenues, which undermined their effectiveness.
No Ceasefire Yet, But POW Exchange Moves Forward
Though ceasefire talks collapsed last Friday after just two hours in Turkey, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a 1,000-person prisoner exchange. Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said the transfers could begin this week.
Putin reportedly refused to attend the Istanbul summit, which Trump attributed to his own absence.
“He and I will meet, and I think we’ll solve it—or maybe not,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Zelenskyy Presses U.S. and Europe for Pressure on Russia
On Sunday, Zelenskyy met with VP Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and several European leaders in Rome. He posted on social media platform X that he is committed to “real diplomacy” and noted Russia’s delegation in Istanbul consisted of “non-decision-makers.”
Zelenskyy stressed the urgency of sanctions and defense cooperation and reaffirmed Ukraine’s willingness to engage in negotiations.
“The Russians must feel the pressure to stop,” he said.
Europe Aligns With Trump’s Ceasefire Plan
European leaders including Germany’s Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and others conferred with Trump ahead of his Putin call. Macron posted that Putin “must show he wants peace” by accepting the proposed 30-day ceasefire.
The leaders plan to reconvene after the Trump-Putin call to coordinate further actions.
Russia Escalates With Massive Drone Barrage
As diplomatic efforts unfolded, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 273 drones and decoys—the largest drone strike since the full-scale war began in 2022. The attacks targeted Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk, adding urgency to the call for a ceasefire.
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