U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine will commence immediate ceasefire negotiations, following what he described as a "very good" phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Taking to his Truth Social platform minutes after the two-hour conversation, President Trump stated that the discussion marked a crucial step toward “ending the war.” He emphasized that the peace talks would be conducted directly between the two nations, as "only they know the details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of."
Trump said he followed up his call with Putin by hosting a high-level conference call with several global leaders. Among those briefed were Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
During the call, Trump informed them that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to begin bilateral negotiations immediately. He also noted that the Vatican, represented by Pope Francis, had expressed a strong interest in hosting the peace talks.
Praising the conduct of the Russian President, Trump said, “The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent,” expressing optimism that the new round of diplomacy could yield real progress.
This development follows mounting international pressure for a resolution to the prolonged conflict, and it marks the most direct U.S.-led initiative toward a ceasefire in recent months.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)