What Did Trump and Putin Discuss in Their Recent Call? Insights into the Ukraine Conflict

Trump and Putin Engage in Extended Discussion

In a significant two-hour conversation on Monday, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The White House indicated that Trump has become increasingly 'frustrated' with the situation and is planning to reach out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to facilitate a ceasefire.

Following their discussion, Putin expressed Russia's willingness to pursue a resolution to the fighting, emphasizing the need for compromises from both sides. He characterized the dialogue with Trump as 'frank and meaningful.'

The White House has yet to release its own summary of the call.

In a social media update over the weekend, Trump expressed optimism for a 'productive day' and a potential ceasefire, which would also involve discussions with NATO leaders. However, Vice President JD Vance noted that Trump is prepared to abandon efforts to resolve the conflict if he perceives a lack of seriousness from Putin regarding negotiations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeled the conversation as 'important,' especially in light of the recent talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian representatives, marking the first negotiations since March 2022.

Trump's attempts to mediate the war, which began with Russia's invasion in February 2022, pose a critical challenge to his reputation as a negotiator, especially given his previous claims of swiftly resolving the conflict upon returning to the White House.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump is 'weary and frustrated' with both parties involved in the conflict, reiterating his desire for a peaceful resolution and ceasefire as soon as possible.

The former president is relying on his personal rapport with Putin to help break the deadlock in the fighting.

Vance remarked that Trump is 'more than open' to walking away from negotiations if progress is not made, emphasizing that the U.S. is not willing to waste time without tangible outcomes.

Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed confidence that the call with Putin would help alleviate some of the current stalemate.

Trump's Growing Frustration Over the Ongoing War

Concerns persist that Trump's favorable view of Putin could disadvantage Ukraine in any agreements brokered by the U.S.

Bridget Brink, who resigned last month as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, criticized the administration's approach, stating that it prioritized pressure on Ukraine rather than on Russia, the aggressor.

Brink cited a February Oval Office meeting where Trump and his team criticized Zelenskyy for not showing enough deference, prompting her decision to leave.

She asserted that 'peace at any price' is not true peace but rather appeasement, which historically leads to further conflict.

Trump's dissatisfaction with the war had been escalating prior to his recent social media post regarding the upcoming calls.

He indicated that his conversation with Putin would focus on halting the 'bloodbath' and would also touch on trade, suggesting he might leverage financial incentives to reach an agreement following the sanctions imposed on Russia.

Trump expressed hope that 'a war that should have never happened will end.'

Vance mentioned that Trump would question Putin's commitment to negotiating an end to the conflict, suggesting that if Russia is not serious, Trump may withdraw from the effort.

He stated, 'It takes two to tango,' implying that if Russia is unwilling to engage, the U.S. may need to distance itself from the conflict, labeling it as 'Joe Biden's war' and 'Vladimir Putin's war.'

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted on NBC's 'Meet the Press' that Trump has made it clear that a lack of good faith from Putin could result in additional sanctions against Russia.

Bessent criticized the sanctions initiated during Biden's administration as insufficient, arguing they did not effectively curb Russia's oil revenues due to concerns about rising U.S. prices.

No Ceasefire Yet, But Prisoner Exchanges Planned

Recently, Putin declined an invitation from Zelenskyy to meet in Turkey as an alternative to a proposed 30-day ceasefire supported by Ukraine and its Western allies.

The discussions concluded without a ceasefire agreement after less than two hours, although both nations agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, with Ukraine's intelligence chief indicating that exchanges could occur as soon as this week.

During his four-day trip to the Middle East, Trump remarked that Putin's absence from Turkey was linked to his own presence there.

'He and I will meet, and I think we’ll solve it or maybe not,' Trump told reporters as he boarded Air Force One. 'At least we’ll know. And if we don’t solve it, it’ll be very interesting.'

Zelenskyy met with Trump's vice president, JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome, as well as with European leaders, intensifying diplomatic efforts ahead of the Monday calls.

Zelenskyy shared on social media that discussions with U.S. officials included the negotiations in Turkey, noting that 'the Russians sent a low-level delegation of non-decision-makers.' He emphasized Ukraine's commitment to 'real diplomacy' aimed at achieving a ceasefire.

'We also discussed the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, the battlefield situation, and the upcoming prisoner exchange,' Zelenskyy stated. 'Pressure is necessary against Russia until they are willing to cease hostilities.'

The German government reported that Chancellor Friedrich Merz and leaders from France, Britain, and Italy spoke with Trump late Sunday regarding the situation in Ukraine and his imminent call with Putin. A brief statement did not provide details but indicated that the exchange would continue directly after the Trump-Putin conversation.

In a post on social media, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Putin to demonstrate a desire for peace by accepting the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by Trump and supported by Ukraine and Europe.

This diplomatic push coincided with the Kremlin's largest drone attack on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, involving 273 drones and decoys targeting Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions.