In a bid to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stressing the need to halt what he described as a "bloodbath" in the region.
Trump Plans Call with Putin to Address Ukraine Conflict Escalation
Trump Plans Call with Putin to Address Ukraine Conflict Escalation
Former President aims to broker peace talks with Russian leader amid ongoing violence.
In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump stated that he intends to call Putin at 10:00 EDT (14:00 GMT) on Monday, with a focus on ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. He indicated that after the conversation with Putin, he would reach out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders from several NATO countries. The announcement comes on the heels of a recent round of discussions between Ukraine and Russia that did not yield any significant breakthroughs; however, a prisoner exchange was agreed upon.
Trump had expressed willingness to attend the negotiations in Turkey, contingent on Putin's participation, but the Russian leader declined the offer. Observers suggest that Trump’s latest attempts to mediate are indicative of his broader strategy to reclaim the role of a peace broker.
On Saturday, Trump expressed optimism for the upcoming discussions, hoping they would lead to a ceasefire and ultimately bring an end to what he termed a senseless war. Meanwhile, NATO leaders continue to advocate for a 30-day ceasefire as a means to stabilize the situation.
Despite the calls for peace, violence persists, as highlighted by a recent airstrike from Russian forces in Sumy that resulted in nine civilian deaths. Zelensky condemned the attack and demanded stronger sanctions on Moscow, labeling the strike a deliberate assault on civilians. While the Russian delegation viewed the recent negotiations as productive, the situation remains fraught with tension as Russia continues its military operations, following a full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022.
Trump had expressed willingness to attend the negotiations in Turkey, contingent on Putin's participation, but the Russian leader declined the offer. Observers suggest that Trump’s latest attempts to mediate are indicative of his broader strategy to reclaim the role of a peace broker.
On Saturday, Trump expressed optimism for the upcoming discussions, hoping they would lead to a ceasefire and ultimately bring an end to what he termed a senseless war. Meanwhile, NATO leaders continue to advocate for a 30-day ceasefire as a means to stabilize the situation.
Despite the calls for peace, violence persists, as highlighted by a recent airstrike from Russian forces in Sumy that resulted in nine civilian deaths. Zelensky condemned the attack and demanded stronger sanctions on Moscow, labeling the strike a deliberate assault on civilians. While the Russian delegation viewed the recent negotiations as productive, the situation remains fraught with tension as Russia continues its military operations, following a full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022.
