Trump Plans Monday Call with Putin to Push for Ukraine Ceasefire

Former President Donald Trump announced he will hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, aiming to halt what he called the “bloodbath” of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Posting on Truth Social Saturday, Trump wrote, “The subjects of the call will be stopping the bloodbath that is killing, on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week—and trade.”

A Potential Breakthrough?

This announcement follows a rare face-to-face meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Turkey on Friday—their first direct contact in over three years. That meeting resulted in a prisoner swap deal involving 1,000 captives, but broader peace talks remain elusive.

Trump, who has repeatedly stated that no real progress can be made without direct U.S.-Russia dialogue, said earlier this week:
“I don’t believe anything is going to happen, whether you like it or not, until he and I get together.”

He also noted that he intends to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO leaders after the Putin call.
“Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war—a war that should have never happened—will end,” he added.

Kremlin Confirms Talks Are in Motion

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Saturday that preparations are underway for the Trump-Putin call, telling state media, “The conversation is being prepared.”

While there is no confirmation yet on whether the call could lead to a formal ceasefire, Trump’s involvement has renewed speculation about a possible diplomatic breakthrough.

Turkish Talks Set the Stage

Pressure has been building for Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire, a proposal backed by Ukraine and its Western allies. While Putin rejected that idea, he did send a delegation to Turkey for direct talks. However, he did not attend in person—something Trump had anticipated.

“He was gonna go, but he thought I was gonna go,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One earlier this week. “He wasn’t going if I wasn’t there.”

Despite his absence, the talks marked the first steps toward dialogue since 2022, and led to a prisoner exchange agreement.

U.S. Diplomacy in Motion

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also played a role in pushing diplomacy forward, speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday. According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Rubio reiterated America’s push for an immediate ceasefire and praised the prisoner swap deal.

“The United States is committed to achieving a lasting end to the Russia-Ukraine war,” Bruce said in a statement. “The comprehensive peace plan proposed by the United States outlines the best way forward.”

Rubio later posted on X, “Let’s not miss this huge opportunity. The time for ending this war is now.”

Trump: ‘Time for Me and Putin to Talk’

Speaking on Fox News Friday, Trump voiced his frustration with others taking the lead on negotiations.

“I’m tired of having other people go and meet,” he said. “There can’t be a deal without me. I think we’ll probably schedule it, because Putin wants this meeting too.”

Trump stopped short of blaming Putin directly for the prolonged war but suggested the Russian leader was also growing weary.

“Putin is tired of this whole thing,” Trump said. “He’s not looking good. He wants to look good. Don’t forget, this was supposed to end in one week.”

As Monday’s high-stakes call approaches, all eyes will be on whether Trump can nudge both sides toward a ceasefire—or at least open the door for serious negotiations.