Trump and Putin Set for Talks on Ukraine War Amid Ceasefire Negotiations

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday regarding efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Trump revealed that discussions are already underway about “dividing up certain assets” between the warring parties. While U.S. officials expressed optimism about a ceasefire deal in the coming weeks, Putin has yet to provide a clear response, instead listing several conditions and raising concerns over the proposal.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated that negotiations would include territorial matters and critical infrastructure. “I think we’ll be talking about land… we’ll be talking about power plants,” he said. “We have already discussed a lot with both sides, Ukraine and Russia. We are already talking about dividing up certain assets.” His envoy for the conflict, Steve Witkoff, who recently met with Putin, believes the two presidents will have a “really good and positive discussion” and expects a potential deal within weeks.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky remains skeptical of Russia’s intentions, accusing the Kremlin of stalling peace efforts to gain a stronger position on the battlefield. “Moscow wants to first improve their situation on the battlefield before agreeing to any ceasefire,” Zelensky warned. Over the weekend, Russia launched 90 Iranian-made Shahed drones on nine Ukrainian regions, escalating tensions.

Meanwhile, diplomatic engagements between Washington and Moscow have intensified. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, about “concrete aspects of the implementation of understandings” reached during a U.S.-Russia summit in Saudi Arabia last month. The State Department confirmed that both sides discussed “next steps” on Ukraine and agreed to restore communication channels. However, Russia’s foreign ministry made no mention of the proposed ceasefire.

On the international stage, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Russia for delaying negotiations, stating, “The ‘yes, but’ from Russia is not good enough.” He called for an immediate end to what he described as “barbaric attacks on Ukraine.” The UK hosted a virtual summit on Ukraine, further increasing diplomatic pressure on Moscow.

Putin remains firm in his stance, stating that Russia holds the momentum in the war, particularly in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. Russian forces have reportedly gained ground in some areas, including Ukraine’s Kursk region, where Kyiv had hoped to maintain control over Russian territory as leverage for future negotiations. Putin said he intends to discuss Moscow’s concerns with Trump in their upcoming phone call.

As diplomatic efforts continue, Zelensky emphasized the need for stronger economic sanctions on Russia. He spoke with Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, who expressed support for increasing financial pressure on Moscow. “We must impose all-out sanctions on everything that funds Russia’s war,” Zelensky said. Carney is set to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the coming days as Canada, which holds the G7 presidency this year, seeks to bolster support for Ukraine. Additionally, Zelensky announced changes in Ukraine’s military leadership, replacing Chief of General Staff Anatoliy Bargylevych with Andriy Gnatov to improve the armed forces’ efficiency.