The Blubber

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine are set to begin immediate talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire and ultimately ending the war, following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump described the call as “very good” and said any path to peace would have to be determined directly by both countries involved.

For his part, Putin indicated a willingness to engage with Ukraine on drafting a "memorandum" that could lay the groundwork for a future peace deal. However, he did not respond to calls from the U.S. and European allies for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

Trump also held a separate conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called the situation “a defining moment” and urged the United States to stay involved in peace efforts, warning that any withdrawal would benefit Russia.

Despite Trump’s optimistic tone regarding talks with Putin, there was no clear timeline for when negotiations might begin, nor any indication that the Kremlin is prepared to shift its stance on key demands tied to a ceasefire.

Following his conversation with Trump, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s stance that any ceasefire must be complete and unconditional, and emphasized that if Moscow is unwilling to agree, then stronger sanctions should be imposed.

Speaking earlier in the day—before Trump’s discussion with Putin—Zelensky stressed that Ukraine must be involved in any decision-making about its future, calling that a “matter of principle.” He also said Ukraine had yet to see any details about the proposed memorandum and would wait to evaluate it before commenting further.

Posting on his Truth Social platform after both calls, Trump said, “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.” He added that this development was shared with Zelensky in a follow-up call that included several international leaders.

Trump emphasized that the specific terms of peace would be negotiated by Russia and Ukraine directly, stating: “Only they know the true details of what a workable agreement would require.”

Zelensky, meanwhile, insisted that both the U.S. and Europe must be involved in the negotiation process at the appropriate level, stressing that “only Putin gains if the United States distances itself from peace efforts.”

Later that day, speaking at a White House event, Trump made clear that Washington would continue to play a role in facilitating talks, though he noted he had a "red line in his head" about how far the U.S. would go in pressing both sides. He denied that the U.S. was backing away from mediation.

In recent weeks, Trump has expressed growing frustration with the lack of progress toward peace and has warned that the U.S. could pull back from negotiations if there are no signs of movement from either Moscow or Kyiv.

When asked about his view on Russia, Trump said he believes Putin wants the war to end and is ready to find a resolution.

Putin, speaking from a music academy in Sochi, called his conversation with Trump “frank, informative, and constructive.” He confirmed that Russia is prepared to explore the idea of a peace framework through a memorandum, which he said could define “key positions” such as the terms for a possible ceasefire and a timeline for moving toward a peace deal—provided agreements can be reached.