Plans for Peace Talks
US President Donald Trump has announced that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss potential solutions for ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump mentioned that discussions are already underway regarding “dividing up certain assets” between the warring nations.
On Sunday, US officials expressed hope that a ceasefire agreement could be reached soon, with the possibility of a resolution emerging in the next few weeks. The proposed halt in fighting follows discussions in Saudi Arabia, which were accepted by Kyiv. “I think we’ll be talking about land… we’ll be talking about power plants,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “I think we have a lot of it already discussed very much by both sides, Ukraine and Russia.”
Putin's Response and Conditions
Despite pressure from Washington and European allies to halt the fighting, Russian President Putin has not yet agreed to the ceasefire proposal. Instead, he has outlined several conditions and raised “serious questions” about the plan. Trump’s special envoy for the conflict, Steve Witkoff, who met with Putin recently, believes the two leaders will have a “good and positive discussion” this week, and Trump is hopeful a deal could emerge in the coming weeks. 
Ukraine’s Stance and Concerns
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of not being interested in ending the war, stating that Moscow intends to “improve their situation on the battlefield” before agreeing to any ceasefire. This stance highlights the ongoing tensions and the complexities of negotiating peace during such a protracted conflict.
Other Diplomatic Developments
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the next steps for implementing agreements made at the US-Russia summit in Saudi Arabia. The summit, held in February, was the first high-level meeting between the two nations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conversation between Rubio and Lavrov focused on future communication between the US and Russia but did not directly address the ceasefire proposal.
In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Putin for “dragging his feet” on the ceasefire during a virtual summit on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces reported that Russia launched 90 Iranian-made Shahed drones across nine Ukrainian regions.
Global Pressures and Sanctions
Ukrainian President Zelensky also called for stronger sanctions against Russia, urging the international community to target sectors that provide funding for Russia’s war effort. Zelensky emphasized that only with increased pressure can Russia be forced into a fair and lasting peace.
Meanwhile, Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has taken a firm stance on the situation, advocating for stepped-up efforts to isolate Russia economically. Carney’s upcoming meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will focus on coordinating international responses to the crisis.
