Trump Discusses Ukraine Call with Putin: No "Immediate Peace" on Horizon
Post-Call with Putin: No Immediate Resolution for Ukraine's Ongoing Conflict - Trump, in remarks following a conversation with Putin, foresees no swift resolution or truce in Ukraine at present.
Trump, using his online platform Truth Social, shared that he had a call lasting one hour and 15 minutes with Putin, where the Russian leader spoke about responding to a recent airfield attack. Unlike his end-of-May post, Trump's tone seemed less confrontational this time, as he had previously accused Putin of going "completely mad" over continued attacks.
Kremlin officials labeled the conversation between the leaders as "productive," with both Putin and Trump expressing a desire to maintain regular communication. Regarding the recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian military bases over the weekend, Trump mentioned that the US had not been informed in advance.
Following the call, Putin also spoke with Pope Leo XIV about the Ukraine conflict on Wednesday. According to the Kremlin, Putin expressed a commitment to achieving peace through diplomatic channels, yet he claimed the Ukrainian government is escalating the conflict and sabotaging civilian infrastructure in Russian territory.
Pope Leo XIV encouraged Putin to make a gesture towards peace during their conversation, emphasizing the need for dialogue in order to establish positive contact and find a solution to the conflict.
After the Putin-Trump call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies not to appear weak towards Putin, stating that his lack of pressure would encourage him to commit more violent acts. Trump additionally mentioned that Iran was a subject of conversation during the call, expressing frustration over Iran's perceived delay in deciding on a new nuclear agreement, which he believes needs a swift resolution.
Side Notes:
- The current status of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia is not directly affected by this phone call, as the most recent round of negotiations took place in Istanbul.
- Negotiations in Istanbul resulted in an agreement for a prisoner exchange focusing on prisoners under 25 or in serious medical condition, but Russia continues to reject demands for an immediate ceasefire.
- Ukraine submitted its proposal, emphasizing Ukrainian sovereignty and requesting the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. However, there is significant disagreement over the number of Ukrainian children held in Russia, with Russia denying large-scale abductions.
- For more details, you can check out the latest peace memo presented by Russia, outlining its terms for a ceasefire and peace deal, or Ukraine's own proposal and demands.
Vladimir Putin discussed the ongoing Ukraine conflict with Donald Trump during a phone call at the Kremlin, but there was no immediate promise of peace on the horizon. After the conversation, Putin also spoke with Pope Leo XIV about the conflict, with the latter encouraging him to make a gesture towards peace.
