Trump to hold phone calls with Putin, Zelensky amid ceasefire push
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US President Donald Trump will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, followed by talks with Zelensky and NATO, as Washington pushes for a ceasefire.
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US President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One to depart Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP)
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he plans to hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, May 19.
"I will be speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday, at 10:00 a.m.," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump also stated that following the conversation with Putin, he would hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and members of NATO, indicating a day of intense diplomatic engagement centered on efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place," he added.
US eyes ceasefire through high-level diplomacy
In parallel diplomatic efforts, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. According to a statement from the US Department of State, Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a ceasefire and welcomed recent progress made at the Istanbul negotiations.
"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today. Secretary Rubio welcomed the prisoner exchange agreement reached during the May 16 Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul and delivered President Trump's strong message: the United States is committed to achieving a lasting end to the Russia-Ukraine war," said the Department of State spokesperson.
The statement also emphasized that President Trump’s peace plan outlines the clearest path toward ending the conflict and called for an immediate ceasefire and end to the violence.
Istanbul talks lead to prisoner exchange deal
In a related context, the latest Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul have shown signs of progress beyond expectations, according to a Turkish official cited by CNN on Friday.
"It was more positive than expected. They didn’t use accusatory language," the official said, highlighting a notably less confrontational tone during the session.
Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who leads the Russian delegation, announced that both parties had agreed on a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side. The agreement is seen as a potential confidence-building measure amid broader negotiations to resolve the conflict.
NATO consultations follow Putin and Zelensky talks
Following calls with Putin and Zelensky, Trump is expected to consult with NATO allies to coordinate diplomatic and security strategies related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The sequence of talks underscores growing efforts by the US administration to lead a diplomatic push toward de-escalation and a possible ceasefire.
Read more: Ukraine may have to give up land for peace, Kiev mayor tells BBC
