Trump set to speak with Putin, Zelenskyy in effort to broker Ukraine ceasefire

Published: Monday, May 19, 2025 at 12:39 pm

Trump to Engage Putin and Zelenskyy in Ceasefire Push for Ukraine

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is stepping back into the international spotlight, planning separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday. The goal: to facilitate a ceasefire in the ongoing, devastating conflict in Ukraine.

The news comes as the war continues to rage, with Trump citing the need to stop the "bloodbath" that is claiming the lives of thousands of soldiers weekly. A Kremlin spokesman confirmed the call with Putin is scheduled for 10 a.m. ET. Trump also intends to speak with other NATO leaders as part of his efforts.

This initiative follows a meeting between Zelenskyy and U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Rome on Sunday. The discussions focused on the current situation in Ukraine.

While a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy was initially proposed, it was ultimately declined. However, there have been some positive developments. Delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey met in Istanbul on Friday, marking the first in-person talks between Russian and Ukrainian government officials since 2022. The Associated Press reported that the two sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each and to provide detailed ceasefire proposals.

Trump has indicated his belief that Putin would not meet with Zelenskyy unless he was present, suggesting his involvement is crucial to any potential breakthrough.

BNN's Perspective: While any effort to de-escalate the conflict and save lives is welcome, the success of Trump's intervention remains uncertain. His past relationship with Putin and his stated skepticism of NATO could complicate the situation. However, the potential for a ceasefire, even if fragile, is a positive development that warrants cautious optimism.

Keywords: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine, Russia, ceasefire, war, conflict, negotiations, NATO, Istanbul, prisoners of war, peace talks, international relations, foreign policy

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