Trump, Putin hold talks on Ukraine ceasefire
3 Min Read
Dan Scavino, Trump's deputy chief of staff, described the call as "going well" in a social media update.
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"Peace to the world", a painting created by Russian artist Alexei Sergienko showing a combination of faces of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, is on display at the Sergienko's gallery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, March 14, 2025 (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a lengthy phone conversation on Tuesday, discussing a potential ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. The discussion, which lasted over 90 minutes, centered on efforts to bring an end to the conflict, including possible territorial concessions by Kiev.
Trump has already signaled his openness to negotiating which annexed territories Russia might retain, stating over the weekend that discussions between Washington and Moscow involve "dividing up certain assets." This has sparked concern among Ukrainian officials and European allies, who fear that Trump may concede too much to the Russian leader, whom he has frequently praised.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesperson, confirmed that the call had concluded, as reported by TASS. The White House also acknowledged the conversation and announced plans to release a statement on its outcome.
Dan Scavino, Trump's deputy chief of staff, described the call as "going well" in a social media update. Nearly an hour and a half after the conversation began, he noted that it was still ongoing.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, a final agreement remains uncertain. Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day halt in hostilities and is prepared to enter peace talks, but Moscow has outlined several conditions, including barring Kiev from NATO membership. Trump commented on his Truth Social platform late Monday that "many elements of a final agreement have been agreed to, but much remains" to be settled.
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Earlier on Tuesday, before speaking with Trump, Putin delivered a speech criticizing Western nations, asserting that they would continue to undermine Russia even if sanctions imposed over the Ukrainewar were lifted. He also dismissed the significance of the G7, saying the group was too minor to "see on a map," a remark that drew applause from his audience.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga stated that Moscow must "unconditionally" agree to the ceasefire, stressing, "It is time for Russia to show whether it really wants peace." However, President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that Putin's goal is not peace but a stronger military position before halting combat operations.
Russia has maintained relentless missile and drone attacks on Ukraine for more than three years, controlling approximately 20 percent of the country's south and east while making steady territorial gains. Putin has insisted that a ceasefire would primarily benefit Kiev rather than his advancing forces. Additionally, Moscow has rejected the idea of Western peacekeeping forces in Ukraine and opposed US military support for Kiev during any pause in the fighting.
