Efforts to end the war in Ukraine took a new turn this week as U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin all held important phone talks. A potential ceasefire is once again on the table, but strong doubts remain—especially from Ukraine—about Russia’s true intentions.
Following a series of phone calls, Trump said Russia and Ukraine would “immediately” begin negotiations toward a ceasefire and peace deal. The Vatican has offered to host the talks. However, Zelensky made it clear that while Ukraine is ready for peace, trust in Moscow is still very low.
Zelensky: Russia Must Prove It’s Serious
Speaking after calls with Trump and European leaders, President Zelensky said he was unsure whether Russia was truly committed to ending the war. “We sincerely want to end this war,” Zelensky said. “But I’m not convinced that Russia is ready, and we don’t trust them.”
Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine is willing to begin direct negotiations, but only after a full and unconditional ceasefire. He stressed that Ukraine had been open to talks for some time and had welcomed President Trump’s idea of a ceasefire without conditions. “Our position is clear: first a ceasefire, then steps like a prisoner exchange,” he explained.
Trump: “Something Might Happen”
President Trump has expressed cautious optimism about the latest developments. He said his recent call with Putin “went very well” and that some progress was being made, though he gave few details. Trump also admitted that negotiations could fail. “Big egos involved,” he said. “If it doesn’t happen, I just back away and they’ll have to keep going.”
Trump added that he has a “certain line” he will not cross, but refused to say what that line is, fearing it could harm the negotiation process. Despite earlier pressure on Russia, including threats of sanctions, Trump is now backing Putin’s proposal for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, with less involvement from the U.S.
Zelensky Warns Against Side Deals
Zelensky expressed concern that the U.S. might agree to something with Russia without including Ukraine. After speaking with Trump twice on Monday, before and after the U.S. president’s call with Putin, Zelensky cautioned against making any decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine’s involvement.
He repeated that Ukraine wants to end the war but will not accept any Russian ultimatums. Zelensky also emphasized that American and European officials should remain involved in the peace process, stating, “The negotiation process must involve both American and European representatives at the appropriate level.” He knows how Europeans are on his side and is trying to leverage that in negotiations.
Putin’s Push for Talks—and Business
For his part, President Putin called his talk with Trump “frank” and “quite useful.” He confirmed that Russia is ready to work on a peace agreement and that Moscow will soon send Ukraine a memo outlining its principles. Putin said Russia wants to deal with the “root causes” of the conflict and is now focused on extended negotiations rather than an immediate ceasefire.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, noted that Trump appeared very interested in the economic benefits of ending the war. Trump reportedly talked emotionally about future U.S.-Russia trade, suggesting that peace could lead to major business deals between the two countries.
A Complex Road Ahead
Though all sides are now talking, major disagreements remain. Ukraine is demanding a full ceasefire before any further talks, while Russia wants to discuss broader issues first. Trump, once eager to play the role of mediator, now seems ready to let the two countries handle negotiations directly—possibly with help from the Vatican.
The only concrete result so far has been a prisoner exchange agreement, with each side set to release 1,000 detainees. Still, there is no clear breakthrough on ending the war itself.
With deep mistrust, clashing priorities, and high stakes, the road to peace remains uncertain—but the latest moves may be the start of something bigger. As Trump said, “Something’s going to happen”—but what, when, and how are questions still without clear answers.