President Donald Trump said on Monday that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin negotiations toward a ceasefire following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The announcement marks the most serious movement toward ending the war in Ukraine that started in February 2022.
In a statement released on his Truth Social platform after the call, Trump described it as positive in both “tone and spirit”.
He added that the terms of a peace agreement would be determined by Ukraine and Russia directly, saying, “I believe it went very well; they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.”
Russian state media confirmed the conversation and reported that Putin had called it “informative and useful”.
The Kremlin said Russia is ready to draft a memorandum with Ukraine outlining the path toward negotiations, with the Russian president quoted as saying, “We’re generally on the right track.”
A ceasefire, Putin added, could be possible once compromises acceptable to both sides are reached.
Trump also said his call with Putin followed a brief phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and consultations with European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
According to Trump, the Vatican has offered to host the upcoming negotiations, signalling wide international interest in facilitating peace.
The initiative comes amid mounting frustration within the Trump administration. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, speaking to reporters in Rome earlier in the day, warned that the United States could walk away from the peace effort if Russia fails to show seriousness.
“We’re going to try to end it, but if we can’t, we’re eventually going to say, ‘You know what? That was worth a try, but we’re not doing any more,” Vance said.
Trump has long vowed to end the war quickly and criticised previous U.S. support for Ukraine as being the reason the conflict continued to escalate. Under his leadership, America’s policy has shifted toward prioritising negotiations.
Still, the challenges ahead remain huge. Russia currently occupies around 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory and last weekend launched its largest drone assault since the invasion began.
Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of preparing to test an intercontinental ballistic missile, though Russia has not confirmed such action.
Putin continues to insist that Ukraine must withdraw from the four regions claimed by Russia and officially abandon its NATO ambitions. However, European leaders, including, have urged Putin to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is “weary and frustrated with both sides” but remains committed to brokering a resolution.
When asked if additional sanctions on Russia are still under consideration, she responded, “Everything’s on the table.”