US President Donald Trump said he will call Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. He wants to help end the war in Ukraine. On Saturday, he wrote on Truth Social that the goal is to stop the “BLOODBATH.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed the call is being arranged. “The call was being prepared,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS.
So far, Trump has pushed Russia to accept a 30-day ceasefire without conditions.
First Direct Talks Since 2022
On Friday, Russian and Ukrainian officials held direct talks in Istanbul. It was the first meeting since spring 2022. As a result, both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each.
After the meeting, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led his country’s delegation, said the “next step” should be a meeting between President Zelenskyy and Putin.
In response, the Kremlin said such a meeting could happen. However, it added that both sides must first reach a proper agreement. “We consider it possible, but only as a result of the work and upon achieving certain results in the form of an agreement between the two sides,” said Peskov.
Russia Attacks Civilians Despite Talks
Although the talks took place, violence continued. On Saturday, a Russian drone struck a minibus carrying civilians in Ukraine’s Sumy region. As a result, nine people died and five others were injured. According to officials, a family of three was among the victims.
Later that day, Russian forces launched more attacks in eastern Ukraine. They used drones and missiles to kill six people and wound over a dozen. In Kherson, shelling hit a truck delivering humanitarian aid.
In response, Zelenskyy condemned the attacks. He also criticized Russia for refusing a ceasefire. “Without stronger sanctions, without stronger pressure on Russia, there will be no real diplomacy there,” he said.
Trump Seeks Wider Dialogue
Following his planned call with Putin, Trump said he would also speak with NATO leaders and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. He expressed hope for peace. “A ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war… will end,” he wrote.
So far, Trump has said that no real change will happen unless he meets Putin in person. “Nothing’s going to happen” without a face-to-face meeting, he insisted.
U.S. Welcomes Prisoner Exchange
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Rubio welcomed the prisoner swap agreement. During the call, Lavrov said Russia is working on a document with its ceasefire terms.
“If Russia and Ukraine can both provide serious and viable proposals, then there’s been real progress, and we can work off of that,” Rubio said in a CBS interview.
Zelenskyy Criticizes Russia’s Delegation
At the same time, Zelenskyy criticized Russia’s role in the talks. He claimed Putin avoided attending the talks in Turkey because he was “afraid.” He added that the Russian team was not serious.
“Yesterday in Istanbul, everyone saw a weak and unprepared Russian delegation with no significant powers. This must change. We need real steps to end the war,” he said.
Earlier, Zelenskyy warned that if talks failed, the global community should respond. He urged new sanctions. French President Emmanuel Macron agreed. He said Europe and the U.S. are working together on stronger penalties against Moscow.
On Saturday, Zelenskyy also spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. They discussed new and effective sanctions against Russia.
Disputes Over Territory Remain
Despite some progress, major disagreements continue. During the talks, Ukraine rejected Russia’s territorial demands. Moscow claims control over five Ukrainian regions. These include four areas seized since 2022 and Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Ukraine called these demands “unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, the fighting continued on the ground. Russian forces said they had captured Oleksandropil village in the eastern Donetsk region. That area has seen some of the most intense fighting in recent weeks.
