By Fakorede King Abdulmajeed | Fuxma Media | May 19, 2025
President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in a high-level phone call that could mark a turning point in diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The anticipated discussion comes after months of stalled negotiations and as international pressure mounts on Moscow to agree to a ceasefire.
The Kremlin confirmed the upcoming call, describing it as “crucial in the context of intensified diplomatic activity.” The Biden administration had previously spearheaded NATO-led support for Ukraine, but under Trump’s leadership, the U.S. is seeking a new strategy, one that emphasizes dialogue over continued military escalation.
A White House official said Trump is also expected to speak separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later in the day, reinforcing his administration’s desire to act as a mediator between the two warring nations. While no preconditions have been set, both conversations are expected to center on proposals for a temporary ceasefire and humanitarian access to front-line regions.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has also played a key diplomatic role, reportedly urged Putin over the weekend to accept a 30-day ceasefire proposal backed by Ukraine and several European nations. That plan is likely to form a central part of Monday’s discussions.
More than three years into the war, the human toll has been staggering. Tens of thousands have died, millions have been displaced, and large swaths of Ukraine’s infrastructure lie in ruins. Recent offensives in the Donbas region and along the southern front have intensified the urgency for peace talks, with analysts warning that continued fighting risks destabilizing the wider region.
Trump, who has called the war a “senseless tragedy,” has made ending the conflict a foreign policy priority since returning to office. In recent remarks, he said, “We need to stop the bloodbath. I believe it can be done and it starts with a phone call.”
Diplomats remain cautiously optimistic, though skepticism runs high. Previous rounds of negotiations have collapsed, and neither Russia nor Ukraine has publicly altered its core demands: Moscow seeks to retain control of occupied territories, while Kyiv insists on the full restoration of its 1991 borders.
Monday’s call, however, may signal a shift in tone if not yet in substance. With the United States, Europe, and even Turkey involved in behind-the-scenes shuttle diplomacy, hopes are rising that some form of ceasefire temporary or otherwise—could finally emerge.
As the world watches, much now rests on the outcome of two phone calls and whether words can stop a war that has reshaped the global order.
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