Key Highlights:
- Two-hour phone call: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump spoke for two hours on Monday, focusing on ending the over three-year-long war in Ukraine.
- Memorandum for Peace: Putin announced that Russia is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum outlining a potential peace accord, including:
- A framework for ceasefire terms
- A timeframe for implementation
- Face-to-face talks resume: The announcement follows the first direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Turkey since March 2022.
- Putin credits Trump: Speaking from Sochi, Putin thanked Trump for helping revive peace talks, stating efforts are “generally on the right track.”
- Ceasefire proposal: The US, Ukraine, and European partners have urged a 30-day unconditional ceasefire to immediately pause hostilities.
- Trump’s response: On Truth Social, Trump confirmed the call “went very well” and that ceasefire negotiations will begin immediately. He also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- Underlying tensions: Putin reiterated Russia’s longstanding view that NATO expansion and Western actions post-USSR collapse triggered the crisis, calling for addressing the “root causes.”
🔄 Other Key Points:
- Prisoner exchange discussed: Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov revealed a proposed swap of 9 Russian and 9 American prisoners was part of the call.
- No set timeline yet: No specific dates for a ceasefire were agreed upon, but diplomatic groundwork appears to be in motion.
This development marks a significant shift in international diplomacy and could be a critical moment for de-escalating the conflict in Ukraine. However, outcomes will depend on how Ukraine responds and whether all parties commit to a sustained peace process.
