Trump to Speak with Putin & Zelensky Amid Renewed Push for Cease-Fire, Hopes for Diplomatic Breakthrough

By: Fern Sidman

In a striking move that highlights his hands-on diplomatic style, President Donald J. Trump announced on Saturday that he will personally speak with both Russian President Vladimir V. Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, following a flurry of activity in the long-stalled peace efforts between the two nations. According to a report that appeared on Saturday in The New York Times, these conversations come on the heels of the first direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in years, which resulted in a significant prisoner exchange but no progress on a cease-fire agreement.

President Trump, who has often declared his intent to bring the war in Ukraine to a swift end, called Monday’s schedule “potentially a historic day” for diplomacy. Posting on social media, Trump wrote, “Hopefully it will be a productive day, a cease-fire will take place, and this very violent war — a war that should have never happened — will end.”

As reported by The New York Times, the Kremlin confirmed the upcoming call between Trump and Putin, noting it will be the second publicly acknowledged conversation between the two leaders during Trump’s second term. Their previous call in February raised eyebrows globally, particularly because Trump spoke to Putin before contacting Zelensky—a move interpreted by some observers as signaling Trump’s unconventional approach to international diplomacy.

Despite ongoing skepticism from foreign policy veterans and allied capitals, Trump remains confident in his ability to end the war. During a Fox News interview on Friday night, Trump claimed he believed “Putin is tired of this whole thing” and suggested that the Russian president is open to meaningful negotiations. His optimism is reinforced by his consistent campaign rhetoric, in which he promised to “settle the war before I even become president.” Now in office again, the president appears determined to make good on that promise.

Trump’s announcement came just hours after renewed bloodshed in Ukraine. On Saturday morning, a Russian drone attack on a civilian shuttle bus in the northeastern Sumy region killed at least nine people, according to local residents and Ukrainian authorities. As The New York Times reported, the strike was widely condemned as a direct attack on non-combatants, with President Zelensky calling it a “deliberate attack on civilians.”

“The Russians could not have failed to understand what kind of vehicle they were targeting,” Zelensky said, adding that continued violence undermines every step toward diplomacy.

Additional attacks across the country claimed the lives of at least five more civilians, highlighting the stark contrast between ongoing battlefield realities and high-level diplomatic overtures.

Friday’s talks in Istanbul marked the first face-to-face discussions between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in years. According to the information provided in The New York Times report, the two sides agreed to a significant prisoner swap—1,000 captives from each side—but stopped short of agreeing on a cease-fire or road map to end hostilities. The lack of further progress illustrates how entrenched the positions remain, particularly as Putin’s forces continue to escalate their operations in Ukraine.

Zelensky has made it clear that peace will not be possible unless the Kremlin is “forced to the table,” a position that puts him at odds with Trump’s more conciliatory tone. “We are expecting strong sanctions against Russia from the United States, from Europe and from all our partners,” Zelensky said in his Saturday statement. The European Union is poised to announce a new sanctions package on Tuesday, but the Trump administration has not signaled whether it will follow suit.

With religious and political leaders converging in Rome for the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV, diplomacy has found an unlikely venue at the Vatican. Pope Leo, in his first public statement since election, pledged to “make every effort” to help mediate the war in Ukraine.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that sentiment, suggesting the Vatican could serve as a neutral ground for peace talks. According to The New York Times, Rubio spoke on Saturday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov—a call initiated by the American side. The State Department confirmed that Rubio emphasized the president’s call for “an immediate cease-fire.”

Zelensky is also expected to attend the Vatican Mass, alongside Vice President J.D. Vance. The event marks the first time the two will be in the same room since their contentious February meeting in the Oval Office, which was described by The New York Times as “disastrous.” The setting may allow for further behind-the-scenes diplomacy among key figures.

While Trump remains publicly confident in his ability to negotiate peace, the path ahead is uncertain. Putin has not abandoned his maximalist objectives, including annexing large portions of eastern Ukraine and preventing Kyiv from ever joining NATO. Meanwhile, Zelensky has made it clear that he sees no alternative to continued resistance unless the West intensifies pressure on Moscow.

Trump’s next moves will be closely watched both domestically and abroad. His decision not to commit to further sanctions could create friction with European allies, particularly if the Kremlin escalates further. But supporters argue that his direct approach is what the conflict needs.

As The New York Times report noted, Trump’s legacy on the international stage could hinge in large part on how Monday’s conversations unfold. His critics view the calls as longshots; his allies see them as the beginning of the end of a war that has devastated Ukraine and unsettled the global order.

One thing is certain: the world will be watching as President Trump dials into Moscow and Kyiv, potentially laying the groundwork for the first real chance at peace in years. Whether those talks produce a breakthrough or fall flat may define the next chapter of this long and brutal conflict.