WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a high-stakes phone call on Tuesday, with the White House reporting that discussions on securing a ceasefire in Ukraine were “going well.”
However, concerns are growing in Kyiv and among U.S. allies that Trump may be willing to offer significant territorial concessions to Russia.
The 78-year-old Republican has hinted at negotiating which parts of occupied Ukraine Moscow might be allowed to keep, stating over the weekend that the two countries were discussing “dividing up certain assets.”
The call, which began at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT), came as Ukrainian officials insisted that any ceasefire must be on their terms.
“It is time for Russia to show whether it really wants peace,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said.
However, Russian forces continue to push forward in eastern and southern Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelensky warning that Putin is using negotiations as a smokescreen while seeking a stronger military position.
Moscow’s recent missile and drone barrages have left Ukrainian cities under relentless pressure.
Despite Trump’s optimism about progress, a final deal remains elusive.
“Many elements of a final agreement have been agreed to, but much remains,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday night.
He also reiterated his stance that the war must “end NOW,” underscoring his campaign promise to broker a swift resolution to the conflict.
Ahead of the call, Putin delivered a defiant speech criticizing the West and dismissing the Group of Seven (G7) nations as insignificant.
He reiterated that Moscow would not tolerate NATO troops as peacekeepers in Ukraine and warned against continued U.S. military support for Kyiv.
The Kremlin has signaled that its demands could include control over Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—the largest in Europe—as well as a ban on further Western arms shipments to Kyiv.
Putin has long maintained that a ceasefire would primarily benefit Ukraine, arguing that Russian forces are still advancing on the battlefield.
The recent evacuation of Russian civilians from Ukraine’s retaken border areas has further complicated the ceasefire discussions, with the Kremlin portraying the move as a necessary defensive measure.
Trump’s involvement in ceasefire talks marks a stark shift in U.S. policy.
His surprise phone call with Putin in February bypassed Western diplomatic channels and raised concerns about undermining efforts to isolate Russia over its ongoing invasion.
Later that month, Trump’s televised confrontation with Zelensky in the Oval Office led to a temporary suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, a move that drew sharp criticism from both parties in Washington.
Now, as he looks to fulfill his campaign pledge to end the war, Trump faces the challenge of balancing peace efforts with maintaining American credibility among NATO allies.
For Kyiv, the key question remains: will Trump push for a deal that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty, or will he grant Putin the territorial gains Moscow has long sought?
