Putin has sent special “signals” to President Trump as ceasefire talks stall in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Kremlin now appears to be waiting for Trump’s response before proceeding with negotiations that could potentially end the costly war. It seems like a potential betrayal…and he may be running from his original agreement.
At a glance:
• Russian President Vladimir Putin sent “additional signals” to U.S. President Donald Trump through envoy Steve Witkoff
• Putin and Witkoff discussed a 30-day ceasefire proposal in Russia’s war on Ukraine, which was previously agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine
• A call between Trump and Putin is planned, but the timing has not yet been set
• Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy criticized Putin’s response as “manipulative” and designed to prolong the conflict
• Trump has prioritized ending the war, citing high costs to U.S. taxpayers and the tragic loss of life on both sides
Putin Reaches Out to Trump as Ceasefire Talks Stall
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent “additional signals” to U.S. President Donald Trump through real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, who has been acting as an envoy in ceasefire negotiations. These developments come as Russia pauses formal negotiations on a potential 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that was previously agreed upon by Ukraine and the United States during meetings in Saudi Arabia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the communication channel, stating, “Additional information was provided to the Russian side. Through Witkoff, Putin also passed information and additional signals to Trump.” The spokesman expressed “cautious optimism” about the ongoing discussions, suggesting Russia sees Trump as key to resolving the conflict on terms favorable to Moscow.
Trump’s Push for Peace Gains Momentum
President Trump has made ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict a top priority, highlighting both the enormous financial burden on American taxpayers and the devastating human toll. His administration has been actively working on a peace proposal that includes the initial 30-day ceasefire as a first step toward a more permanent resolution.
Trump recently praised Witkoff’s discussions with Putin and expressed hope for a swift end to hostilities. During recent communications, the President specifically requested that Putin spare the lives of Ukrainian troops reportedly surrounded by Russian forces, demonstrating his commitment to reducing casualties while pursuing diplomatic solutions.
Now here is a hypothetical case which Grok is President and the meeting with Zelensky still got heated:
Let’s assume I, as President Grok, had the private pre-meeting with Zelenskyy, laid out the phased plan (ceasefire, security pact, minerals deal), and secured a tentative…
— Chris (@Chris_Roman__) March 1, 2025
Ukraine Skeptical of Russian Intentions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed deep skepticism about Putin’s response to the ceasefire proposal, characterizing it as deliberately misleading. “Right now, we have all heard from Russia Putin’s highly predictable and manipulative words in response to the idea of a ceasefire on the front lines—at this moment he is, in fact, preparing to reject it,” Zelenskyy stated in response to the latest developments.
Zelenskyy, of course, recently angered the Trump administration by appearing to try to torpedo the ceasefire on live television in the oval office when he was ostensibly there to make progress on a deal to end the war and provide the U.S. with compensation.
Zelenskyy further accused Putin of avoiding direct communication with Trump about his true intentions: “Of course, Putin is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war and keep killing Ukrainians. That’s why, in Moscow, they are surrounding the ceasefire idea with such preconditions that it either fails or gets dragged out for as long as possible.” The Ukrainian military has also dismissed Russian claims about surrounded troops as false propaganda.
The conflict, which began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and escalated with the full-scale invasion in 2022, has created a complex diplomatic challenge that the Trump administration appears uniquely positioned to address. With Putin now directly communicating through channels to Trump, observers are watching closely to see if the President’s dealmaking approach can succeed where previous efforts have failed.
