With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine continuing to take a devastating toll, former President Donald Trump has suddenly announced a major phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He’s aiming to discuss ways to stop what he calls the “bloodbath” in Ukraine, where thousands of soldiers on both sides are dying each week.
Trump made the announcement with a dramatic all-caps message on his Truth Social platform, explaining that the call will focus on ending the violence and also address trade issues.
He also said he plans to follow up the call with talks involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several NATO leaders.
“Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should never have happened, will end,” Trump wrote.
Recent Peace Talks Show Promise but No Ceasefire Yet
The timing of Trump’s announcement is notable, coming just after the first face-to-face peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in over three years.
Though the nearly two-hour meeting in Istanbul didn’t lead to a ceasefire, both sides did agree to a prisoner swap involving 1,000 captives.
However, the discussions revealed just how far apart the two sides remain.
Moscow reportedly demanded that Ukraine pull troops back from all territories Russia claims—including some still fiercely contested on the battlefield.
A senior Ukrainian official told Reuters that Russia’s demands went well beyond a recent U.S.-crafted peace proposal, which suggested a path toward peace but also included reparations for Ukraine.
Russia’s conditions included Ukraine withdrawing from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, international recognition of those regions plus Crimea as Russian territory, a commitment from Ukraine to remain neutral, and no presence of foreign troops or weapons of mass destruction on Ukrainian soil.
Moscow also wants all parties to drop any claims for war reparations—something the U.S. proposal explicitly rejected.
Putin’s Absence at the Summit Raises Questions
One striking detail from the Istanbul summit was Vladimir Putin’s absence.
Instead of attending himself, he sent a delegation led by his former culture minister.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said Putin would only meet with Zelensky if the two sides reached a ceasefire framework and completed the prisoner exchange.
Peskov told reporters, “Such a meeting, as a result of the work of the delegations of the two sides, upon reaching certain agreements, is possible. We consider it possible.”
Trump Expresses Confidence in His Ability to Broker Peace
Meanwhile, Trump is doubling down on his belief that he can help end the war, citing his personal relationship with Putin.
In an interview from Abu Dhabi on Fox News, he said, “I have a very good relationship with Putin.
I think we’ll make a deal. We have to get together, and I think we’ll probably schedule it up.”
He added that he’s tired of other diplomats going back and forth and believes he’s the best person to use leverage effectively.
When asked if he would pressure Putin, Trump didn’t hesitate: “I will, if we’re not going to make a deal.
We’ll see what happens — that will be crushing for Russia.”
Upcoming Vatican Visit and Follow-Up Talks
Trump’s planned call with Putin is set for the day after he attends the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo at the Vatican on May 18.
The ceremony will officially mark the beginning of Pope Leo’s leadership of the Catholic Church, attended by around 1.4 billion believers worldwide.
Alongside Trump at the Mass will be a U.S. delegation including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance—who previously had a tense exchange with Zelensky in the Oval Office earlier this year.
Conflict Rages On Despite Diplomatic Efforts
Despite these renewed diplomatic efforts, fighting on the ground in Ukraine continues relentlessly.
Just hours after the Istanbul talks wrapped up, Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians.
A drone strike in Sumy destroyed a minibus, killing nine people and injuring four others.
Russian forces also claimed they captured the village of Oleksandropil in Donetsk, while shelling in Kherson killed two civilians and wounded 13, including humanitarian aid workers.
In Kharkiv, overnight airstrikes near the Russian border left two dead and at least a dozen wounded.
Signs of Cooperation Between Russia and the U.S.
In a surprising development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday.
Lavrov praised Washington’s “positive role” in restarting dialogue and agreed to keep communication channels open as talks continue.