President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a pivotal two-hour call focused on ending the Ukraine war, with both leaders describing the conversation as “frank” and productive while moving toward immediate ceasefire negotiations.
At a Glance
- Trump announced a two-hour call with Putin that he described as going “very well,” stating negotiations for a ceasefire will begin immediately
- Putin expressed readiness to negotiate with Ukraine but demands significant concessions, including Ukraine withdrawing from Russian-controlled territories and not joining NATO
- The Vatican has offered to host negotiations between the parties
- Russia indicated interest in large-scale trade with the United States after the conflict ends
- Trump plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soon to advance peace efforts
Historic Call Between Trump and Putin
President Donald Trump on Monday announced the completion of a lengthy call with Russian President Vladimir Putin focused on ending the Ukraine conflict. The conversation, which lasted approximately two hours, was described by Trump as positive and productive. Trump immediately informed several international leaders about the call, including Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, and stated that negotiations for a ceasefire and an end to the war would begin without delay. The timing of this diplomatic outreach comes as both nations have shown willingness to engage in preliminary peace talks.Â
🇺🇸🇷🇺 Russian President #Putin and US President #Trump will speak by phone on Tuesday to discuss the war in #Ukraine and the feasibility of a 30-day ceasefire.
🇺🇦 FRANCE 24’s Kyiv correspondent @gullivercragg shares insight into how Ukrainians are feeling about this meeting ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/MxobRU350D
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) March 18, 2025
Russian Demands and Ukrainian Response
Putin described the conversation with Trump as “very informative and very frank,” signaling a potentially productive diplomatic channel. Russia’s demands for peace remain substantial, requiring Ukraine to withdraw forces from territories currently under Russian control, abandon seeking compensation for war damages, and acknowledge certain regions as legitimately Russian. Additionally, Putin insists Ukraine must commit to not joining NATO and prohibit foreign military presence on its soil – conditions Ukrainian officials have already rejected as “detached from reality.”Â
Despite these challenging demands, some progress has occurred. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine recently met in Istanbul for preliminary talks, where they reached an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war. This represents a small but significant step in building trust between the warring nations. Putin has indicated he is “ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum for a possible future peace agreement,” though he emphasized addressing what he calls the “root causes” of the conflict, widely interpreted as Russia’s demand for influence over Ukraine.Â
White House Statement on 2.5-Hour Call Between Trump and Putin
"The leaders agreed that progress toward peace will commence with a ceasefire on energy and infrastructure, alongside technical negotiations to implement a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, aiming for a… pic.twitter.com/Bbzpws8c25
— Global Defense Insight (@Defense_Talks) March 18, 2025
Future Diplomatic Steps
The Vatican has emerged as a potential neutral ground for negotiations, with the Pope expressing interest in hosting peace talks between the parties. This offer represents another avenue for dialogue in what has become a complex international effort to end the conflict. Trump has consistently indicated that no peace agreement would occur without his direct involvement with Putin, and he now plans to speak with President Zelenskyy in the coming days to further advance these peace initiatives.
Economic considerations also factored into the discussion. Trump mentioned that Russia expressed interest in developing large-scale trade relationships with the United States after the conflict ends. This economic dimension adds another layer to peace negotiations, potentially offering Russia incentives beyond territorial concessions. Putin indicated that more details about the call might be disclosed by his aides in the near future, suggesting that some elements of the conversation remain confidential as negotiations progress.Â
International Reaction
The international community is watching these developments closely, with European leaders maintaining their position that any ceasefire must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty. The call took place while Putin was visiting a center for gifted children in Sochi, Russia – a detail that Putin’s team emphasized to project normalcy despite the high-stakes nature of the conversation. As Trump prepares for his call with Zelenskyy, observers note that balancing Russian demands with Ukrainian sovereignty will present significant challenges to any lasting peace agreement.Â
The coming weeks will likely determine whether these diplomatic efforts can translate into concrete steps toward ending a conflict that has destabilized Europe and strained international relations for years. With both Trump and Putin expressing optimism about the conversation, attention now turns to Ukraine’s response and whether the proposed ceasefire negotiations can overcome the substantial differences that have prolonged the war.
