Trump Targets Ukraine Ceasefire in Putin, Zelenskky Monday Calls/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday in a bid to advance ceasefire negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war. The calls follow failed peace talks in Istanbul and a deadly weekend of drone strikes. Trump aims to leverage personal diplomacy and economic pressure to end the conflict.
Trump’s Ukraine Ceasefire Talks: Quick Looks
- Trump to speak with Putin at 10 a.m. ET Monday.
- Zelenskyy call and NATO outreach to follow.
- Kremlin calls Trump-Putin conversation “important” post-Istanbul talks.
- Trump aims to end “bloodbath” and push for a ceasefire.
- Ukraine-Russia agreed to exchange 1,000 POWs each.
- Trump suggests trade incentives and tougher sanctions on Russia.
- U.S. Treasury Secretary warns Putin to negotiate “in good faith.”
- Critics warn Trump’s approach may pressure Ukraine unfairly.
- Former ambassador Bridget Brink says U.S. is appeasing Moscow.
- Europe backs Trump’s ceasefire plan with calls for accountability.
Trump Targets Ukraine Ceasefire in Putin, Zelenskyy Monday Calls
Deep Look
Trump Seeks Breakthrough in Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Talks With Putin, Zelenskyy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump will hold back-to-back phone calls Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a renewed attempt to broker a ceasefire in the nearly three-year-old Russia-Ukraine war.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the Trump-Putin call will take place at 5 p.m. Moscow time (10 a.m. Eastern), and described the conversation as “important,” particularly in the aftermath of last week’s unsuccessful peace talks in Istanbul.
Trump, who repeatedly promised to end the conflict swiftly during his campaign and presidency, expressed optimism over the weekend.
“Hopefully it will be a productive day,” he posted on Truth Social, adding that the goal is “a war that should have never happened” finally coming to an end.
Trump Bets on Personal Diplomacy
The Republican president is banking on his personal rapport with Putin to unlock progress. “His sensibilities are that he’s got to get on the phone with President Putin, and that is going to clear up some of the logjam,” said Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy. “I think it’s going to be a very successful call.”
Yet Trump’s approach has drawn criticism from foreign policy veterans and former officials. Bridget Brink, who resigned as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine last month, said she stepped down after a White House meeting in February where Trump and his aides chastised Zelenskyy for not being “sufficiently deferential.”
“I believe that peace at any price is not peace at all,” Brink said Sunday. “It’s appeasement—and appeasement only leads to more war.”
Trade Leverage and Sanctions on the Table
Trump’s conversation with Putin is expected to include trade talks. After years of U.S.-led sanctions against Russia, Trump may consider offering economic incentives in exchange for concessions. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized Sunday that failure to negotiate in good faith would trigger harsher penalties.
“The sanctions under Biden didn’t go far enough,” Bessent told NBC’s Meet the Press, criticizing efforts to avoid disrupting global oil markets. He hinted that Trump could be more aggressive in targeting Russia’s key revenue streams.
Ceasefire Talks Still Fragile
Despite the upcoming high-level calls, the path to peace remains uncertain. Friday’s talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul ended in under two hours with no agreement on a ceasefire. However, both sides did agree to a major prisoner swap — 1,000 detainees each — potentially happening this week.
Zelenskyy, who met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on Sunday, said Ukraine is still pushing for “real diplomacy” but warned against Russian stalling tactics. “Pressure is needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war,” he wrote on X.
Europe Aligns With Trump Ceasefire Push
European leaders including Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Trump Sunday evening, expressing conditional support for his ceasefire push. Macron posted on X:
“Putin must show he wants peace by accepting the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by President Trump and backed by Ukraine and Europe.”
A follow-up call between Trump and European allies is expected after his conversation with Putin.
Drone Attacks Intensify as Diplomacy Builds
Russia launched its largest drone assault since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, according to Ukraine’s air force. A total of 273 drones and decoys targeted the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions over the weekend, escalating the human toll and urgency for de-escalation.
Zelenskyy warned that Russia had sent a “low-level delegation of non-decision-makers” to the Istanbul talks, suggesting Moscow wasn’t negotiating in good faith. Trump’s upcoming call is now seen as a high-stakes attempt to reset the tone and move toward a 30-day ceasefire supported by NATO and the EU.
What to Expect Monday
Trump’s diplomatic schedule is as follows:
- 10 a.m. ET: Call with Putin
- TBD: Call with Zelenskyy
- Later in the day: Follow-up discussions with NATO and European leaders
White House officials have not disclosed whether any immediate announcements will follow Monday’s calls. Trump himself remained measured, telling reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday:
“He and I will meet, and I think we’ll solve it — or maybe not. At least we’ll know.”
As the war rages on and casualties mount, global leaders now wait to see whether Trump’s phone diplomacy can produce the ceasefire he has promised for years.
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