After receiving more than two hours of phone calls from Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump stated that Moscow and Kyiv “will immediately begin negotiations” for a ceasefire and the end of their four-year, bloody conflict.
Putin claimed that Moscow and Ukraine were prepared to work together on a memo regarding a pending peace agreement and that efforts to end the conflict appeared to be “on the right track.”
Putin thanked Trump for backing the resumption of Russian-Ukrainei direct talks, and said that Trump appreciated Russia’s support for peace, despite the pressing issue of how to advance toward peace.
Russia and the United States have come to terms on a memorandum on a potential future peace agreement that will define a number of positions, including those regarding settlement principles, and the timing of a possible peace agreement, according to Putin in a press conference near the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
According to Putin, a ceasefire might be reached if necessary agreements are reached, adding that direct discussions between Russia and Ukraine “give us reason to believe that we are generally on the right track.”
“I would like to take note that Russia’s position is generally clear. We should concentrate on addressing the root causes of this crisis, according to Putin. Simply put, “We need to find the best ways to achieve peace.”
Trump, for his part, claimed that everything went well. The Vatican, “as represented by the Pope,” has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations, according to the US president in a post on Truth Social. Let the process start”!
According to Yulia Shapovalova of Al Jazeera, who is based in Moscow, the call is “very significant” for Putin.
Because of its influence, “He]Putin believes that any problems can be resolved by the US. According to Vladislav Putin, the US initially supported Ukraine and was responsible for starting this conflict, Shapovalova said.
Therefore, speaking directly with Donald Trump and the US was crucial in order to address the so-called “root causes of the conflict.”
momentum in diplomatic relations
Trump gave the call to European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Stronger sanctions against Russia should be imposed, according to Zellenskyy, who has urged Putin to refuse to abide by a ceasefire.
The Ukrainian president reiterated Kyiv’s call for a “full and unconditional ceasefire,” saying that his country is prepared to engage in negotiations with Russia in Turkiye, Switzerland, or the Vatican.
Our representatives are prepared to make informed decisions in negotiations, Zelenskyy said in a statement. “Was needed is a mirrored readiness from Russia to engage in meaningful discussions”
Zelenskyy also urged the US to keep its presence in the negotiations, noting that it is crucial that the US “does not distance itself” from the discussions.
Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, stated that Pope Leo XIV is prepared to host Russia-Ukraine talks at the Vatican in line with international standards.
After Meloni’s call with Putin, Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron, and Friedrich Merz, according to Meloni’s office, spoke to European leaders.
In a statement from Meloni’s office, “Work is being started right away to start negotiations between the parties that can lead to a ceasefire as soon as possible and create the conditions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
The Holy Father’s willingness to hold the Vatican talks was viewed positively in this regard. Italy “is prepared to contribute to facilitating contacts and working for peace,” the statement continued.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb emphasized the importance of “coordination” between the US and Europe, praising the one-hourlong call between Trump and European leaders as “productive.”
After years of Washington joining other Western nations in arming Ukraine, Trump has repeatedly called for a ceasefire. He has promised to put an end to Europe’s most bloody war since World War II.
As an alternative to a 30-day ceasefire urged by Ukraine and its Western allies, including Washington, Zelenskyy made an offer to meet in person with Putin in Turkiye. Zelenskyy suggested doing so.
The first direct negotiations between delegations from Ukraine and Russia in three years took place in Istanbul on Friday, but the outcome was a deal to swap 1, 000 prisoners of war, according to the heads of both delegations, in what would be their biggest such exchange since the start of the conflict.
Russian negotiators demanded that Kyiv withdraw its troops from all of its regions, as a senior Ukrainian official with knowledge of the talks, before agreeing to a ceasefire. As it stands, Russia does not have complete control over those areas, which is a red line for Ukraine.
Kyrylo Budanov, the country’s intelligence chief, stated on Saturday that the exchanges could start this week.
Trump claimed on Friday that Putin had not visited Istanbul because Trump himself wasn’t there, and that he was wrapping up his four-day Middle Eastern trip.
After boarding Air Force One, Trump declared, “He and I will meet, and I think we’ll resolve it or not.” We’ll at least be aware. It will be very interesting if we don’t figure it out.
If Russia continues to refuse a ceasefire, European leaders have demanded that the US join them in imposing strict new sanctions. Trump spoke with the world leaders on Sunday before his meeting with Putin, including those from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy.
According to John Hendren, a journalist from Kyiv, there has been little activity in Ukraine so far.
There won’t likely be many celebrations unless the details are much more revealing, Hendren said.
The calls came a day after Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the conflict.
Source: Aljazeera
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