Following a two-hour conversation with Vladimir Putin, President Trump announced bilateral peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with the Vatican likely to host negotiations.
May 20, 2025: In a dramatic development late Monday, US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine will immediately commence ceasefire negotiations, following a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Trump described the two-hour conversation as going “very well” and emphasized that the tone and spirit of the discussion were excellent. He added that the peace talks will be strictly bilateral, allowing Moscow and Kyiv to handle the specifics directly. “They know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of,” he said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
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Call With European Leaders Follows Putin Discussion
Immediately after speaking with Putin, Trump conducted a conference call with key European leaders — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb — to brief them on the planned negotiations.
He also revealed that the Vatican has expressed interest in hosting the talks, signaling potential involvement of the Holy See in brokering peace.
Trump Touts Trade as Incentive for Peace
Trump reiterated his belief in using trade as a strategic tool in foreign relations. “Russia wants to do large-scale trade with the United States when this catastrophic ‘bloodbath’ is over — and I agree,” he wrote, adding that such trade could help rebuild Russia’s economy post-conflict.
He extended similar thoughts to Ukraine, saying the war-torn nation could become a “great beneficiary on trade in the process of rebuilding.”
Putin Calls Talks ‘Useful’, Pushes For Compromises
From Moscow, President Putin confirmed the call was “useful” and welcomed the resumption of peace talks. He referenced last week’s Istanbul negotiations as a key turning point and acknowledged the need for “compromises” to reach a lasting agreement.
Putin thanked Trump for his support in reviving the diplomatic process and said Russia is ready to propose a memorandum on a future peace accord, which will define key principles and potential timelines for settlement.
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Russia Ukraine war, Trump Putin call, ceasefire negotiations, US foreign policy, Ukraine peace talks, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Zelensky, Russia US trade, Vatican mediation, Ukraine Russia conflict,