After more than four years of war, the world is watching closely as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a lengthy phone call that could open the door to new ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. But can this conversation truly bring peace, or is it just another step in a long and complicated process?
What Happened in the Trump-Putin Call?
On May 19, 2025, President Trump spoke with President Putin for over two hours. After the call, Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start negotiations” to reach a ceasefire and, hopefully, end the war that has caused so much suffering. Trump also said he informed Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders about the plan, emphasizing that both sides must negotiate the terms themselves, as they know the situation best.
Putin echoed Trump’s optimism, saying the efforts to resolve the conflict are “on the right track.” He expressed Russia’s readiness to work with Ukraine on a memorandum for a possible peace agreement, which could include principles for resolving the conflict and a timeline for a peace treaty. However, Putin made it clear that a ceasefire would depend on finding the right arrangements, and he stopped short of agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire as requested by Ukraine and its Western allies.
What Are the Next Steps?
Both Trump and Putin have signaled that direct talks between Russia and Ukraine will begin soon. The Vatican has even offered to host the negotiations, showing the global interest in ending the conflict. However, there is no clear timeline for when these talks will start or how long they might take.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has welcomed the chance for talks but insists that any ceasefire must be “full and unconditional.” He has also called for continued U.S. and European involvement, warning that stepping back would only benefit Russia. European leaders are also pushing for an immediate ceasefire, but Putin has resisted, saying certain conditions must be met first.
Why Is This Moment Important?
This is the first time in over three years that Russia and Ukraine are preparing for direct face-to-face talks, thanks in part to Trump’s intervention. Both sides have expressed some willingness to compromise, and the world is hopeful that this could be a turning point.
However, the situation remains fragile. Previous attempts at peace have failed, and there is still a lot of mistrust between the parties. The war has caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people. Many experts believe that even if a ceasefire is agreed upon, it will take time and effort to reach a lasting peace.
What Are the Challenges?
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Different Goals: Russia and Ukraine have very different ideas about what peace should look like. Ukraine wants all its territory back, while Russia wants to keep some of the areas it controls.
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International Pressure: The U.S., Europe, and other countries are demanding a quick ceasefire, but Russia wants to negotiate the terms first.
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Trust Issues: Both sides have accused each other of breaking past agreements. Building trust will be difficult.
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Sanctions and Economy: Ukraine and its allies are using sanctions to pressure Russia, while Russia is looking for ways to end the conflict and improve its economy.
Could This Lead to Peace?
It’s too early to say if Trump’s conversation with Putin will lead to a real ceasefire or a lasting peace. The announcement of talks is a positive sign, but many details still need to be worked out. Both sides will need to make compromises, and the international community will have to stay involved to help keep the process on track.
As President Trump said, “The terms for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of”. This means that while outside countries can help, the real work must be done by Russia and Ukraine themselves.
This moment offers hope, but also caution. History shows that peace talks can break down easily if there is no real commitment from both sides. Trump’s call with Putin has restarted a process that could lead to peace, but it is just the beginning. The world will be watching to see if Russia and Ukraine can turn words into action and finally bring an end to this long and painful war.
For now, the best we can do is hope that this new round of negotiations will bring both sides closer to peace, and that the suffering of ordinary people in Ukraine will soon come to an end.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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