President Donald Trump announced Monday that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump called the conversation “excellent in tone” and said both sides were moving toward “an end to the war.” He also said that the Vatican had offered to host the talks and that key European leaders had been briefed.
However, the Kremlin offered a more cautious readout. Speaking from Sochi, Putin described the call as “meaningful and frank” but rejected Washington’s push for an immediate 30-day ceasefire. He said Russia supports a broader path to peace but insisted on addressing “root causes” of the war — including demands Kyiv deems unacceptable, such as demilitarization and limits on sovereignty.
While Trump projected optimism, Russia’s response signaled that serious obstacles remain. Ukrainian officials have not publicly responded to either account.
