Trump says Russia and Ukraine to start ceasefire talks 'immediately' after call with Putin

Following a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is prepared to work with Ukraine on a memorandum outlining the terms of a potential peace agreement, describing recent efforts to end the war as being “on the right track.”

Putin expressed appreciation for Trump’s backing of renewed direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, which resumed last week in Turkey — their first face-to-face meeting since March 2022. He said Trump recognized Russia's stated willingness to pursue peace, though the challenge remains how to advance toward that goal.

“We’ve agreed with the President of the United States that Russia will draft and is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum for a possible future peace accord,” Putin told reporters near Sochi on the Black Sea. “This would outline key elements such as principles of settlement and a timeline for a potential agreement.”

Putin noted that a ceasefire — including its duration — would be a critical part of any negotiations. Ukraine, along with its European allies and the U.S., has pushed for an immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

The Russian president said the recent dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow provided “reason to believe we are on the right path,” but stressed that the root causes of the conflict must be addressed. “Russia’s position is clear,” he said. “What matters most is eliminating the fundamental causes of this crisis. Now, we must determine the most effective path toward peace.”

US President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social, said ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine will start "immediately" following the phone call.

Trump said he believed the call "went very well" and that "Russia wants to do largescale TRADE with the United States when this catastrophic 'bloodbath' is over."

"I have so informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, President Emmanuel Macron, of France, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of Italy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of Germany, and President Alexander Stubb, of Finland, during a call with me, immediately after the call with President Putin. The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations. Let the process begin!"

However, European leaders remain skeptical, questioning whether Putin is truly committed to a peaceful resolution. Some fear that Trump may pressure Ukraine into accepting a punitive agreement that effectively cedes roughly 20% of its territory and offers little long-term security from future Russian aggression.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden, along with European leaders and Ukrainian officials, has consistently characterized Russia’s invasion as an imperialist land grab. They argue that the conflict is not just about Ukraine but could foreshadow future threats to NATO, a claim Moscow denies.

Putin, meanwhile, frames the war as a turning point in Russia’s relationship with the West, which he accuses of marginalizing Russia since the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991 — particularly by expanding NATO into territories Moscow considers within its sphere of influence, including Ukraine.