Russia and Ukraine to start ‘immediately’ -fires, says Trump

US President Donald Trump says that Russia and Ukraine “immediately” will start negotiating about a ceasefire and an end to the war after a two-hour phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Trump, who described the conversation as “very good”, also said that the conditions for peace between the two parties should be negotiated.

Putin said he was ready to work with Ukraine on a “memorandum about a possible future peace agreement”, but did not respond to requirements from the US and European countries for an unconditional cease-fire of 30 days.

Trump also spoke with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zensky, who said “this is a decisive moment”, and forced the US not to distance itself from conversations.

After his one-on-one phone call with Trump, Zensky confirmed the desire of Ukraine for a “full and unconditional ceasefire”, and warned whether Moscow is not ready, “there must be stronger sanctions”.

Speaking earlier before Trump’s conversation with Putin, Zensky said he had asked that no decisions about Ukraine had been made without his country and called “principles” for Ukraine.

He added that he had no details about a “memorandum”, but said that once they have received something from the Russians, they “can formulate their vision accordingly”.

Trump wrote on his social page after the call: “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations to a ceasefires -the fire and, more importantly, an end to the war,” adding that he had informed Zensky of this in a second call, which also included other world leaders.

He added: “The conditions for this will be negotiated between the two parties, as it is only, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.”

Zensky said that the negotiation process “should involve both American and European representatives at the right level”.

“It is crucial for all of us that the United States does not distance themselves from the conversations and the pursuit of peace, because the only one who benefits from it is Putin,” he explained.

The US president has repeatedly sworn to end the war and has become increasingly frustrated that it is months in his second term.

In the meantime, Putin – who described the call with Trump, who he took from a music school during a visit to the city of Sochi, as “frank, informative and constructive” – ​​also about the potential for a cessation – the fires.

“We agree with the US president that Russia will offer and is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about a possible future peace agreement,” he said.

This, he added “a number of positions” to define, including “principles of the settlement and a timeline for concluding a possible peace agreement … including a possible cessation -the fires for a certain period, relevant agreements must be reached”.

Yury Ushakov, an assistant of the Russian president, said that a cease -the time frame was not “discussed … Although Trump of course emphasizes his interest in reaching some agreement as quickly as possible”.

Zensky made a second phone call with Trump after the US president spoke with Putin, including President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and the leaders of France, Italy, Germany and Finland.

“I want to thank President Trump for his tireless efforts to bring a cease -the fires to Ukraine,” said Von der Leyen, adding: “It is important that the US will remain engaged.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Paus Leo’s offer to organize potential peace talks was a gesture that was welcomed by the US and the other leaders in the call, and “positively assessed”.

Earlier this month, the new pope offered the Vatican as a location for possible peace talks after Putin turned off the range of Zensky to meet face-to-face for negotiations in Turkey.

Kyiv has previously said Putin’s comments that he wishes to be the peace.

“Putin wants war,” said Andriy Yermak, a top employee of the Ukrainian president, said after Russia had launched on Sunday what Ukraine said Biggest drone attack since the full invasion started in 2022.

Ukraine says that in recent days at least 10 people have been killed in Russian strikes – including Nine people in an attack On a civil minibus in the northeast of Ukraine. Russia says it has also intercepted Ukrainian drones.

The strike in the bus happened only a few hours later Russia and Ukraine held their first face-to-face Conversations in more than three years. A prisoner -swap was agreed, but there was no dedication to a ceasefiring.

Trump had offered to attend the conversations in Turkey if Putin would also be there, but the Russian president refused to go.

Russia has previously ceased -the Fires explained -but only temporary. It explained one for 8-11 May -That coincided with victory celebrations to mark the end of the Second World War -but Kyiv would not register with it and said that Putin could not be trusted and that an immediate 30 -day -day -fire was needed.

The Kremlin announced a similar ceasefire during Easter, but although both parties reported a dip in fighting, they accused each other of hundreds of violations.