President Donald Trump described his latest phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday as a breakthrough moment in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. But Putin’s restrained response suggested a stark contrast in perspective.
Speaking to reporters after the two-hour conversation from the Oval Office, Trump recounted pressing Putin on ending the war: “I said, ‘When are we going to end this, Vladimir? When are we going to stop the bloodshed, the bloodbath?’”
Trump claimed the call went “very well,” declaring that both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to “immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire.” But there was little evidence from the Kremlin to support that optimism.
Putin, who joined the call from a school for gifted children in Sochi while touring the facility, described the conversation merely as “meaningful and frank” — showing no shift from his hardline stance or his demands for ending the war.
Despite Trump’s assertion that negotiations were imminent, Putin has shown no sign of backing down. His forces escalated drone and missile attacks over the weekend, including strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.
Even as Ukraine expressed willingness to observe a 30-day ceasefire, Russia has not reciprocated. The conflicting reactions from both sides highlight the challenges Trump faces in trying to broker a resolution to the war, now entering its third year.
“If I didn’t believe Putin wanted to end this, I wouldn’t even bother,” Trump said Monday. “But I think he’s had enough.”
At a separate White House event, Trump told reporters he believed Putin was serious about peace — though he added a cautionary note. “Big egos involved,” he said. “But I think something’s going to happen. And if it doesn’t, I’ll just back away — and they’ll have to keep going.”
No new ceasefire agreement was confirmed by Russia, and no upcoming summit was announced. Though Trump had teased a potential in-person meeting with Putin ahead of the call, neither government included it in official readouts.
Trump also clarified that while he’s pushing for peace, the exact terms of a ceasefire would be left to Ukraine and Russia. “They know the details of the conflict far better than anyone else,” he wrote on Truth Social. “That’s where negotiations have to happen.”
Ahead of the call, Trump had spoken with several European leaders — including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer — about applying more pressure on Moscow. Starmer said that new sanctions were being considered if Russia refused to engage in serious peace talks.
However, after speaking with Putin, Trump did not mention sanctions. Instead, he hinted at economic incentives:
“Russia wants to engage in large-scale TRADE with the United States once this catastrophic ‘bloodbath’ is over — and I agree,” he wrote. “There’s enormous potential for job creation and economic growth in Russia, and Ukraine can also benefit.”
Trump said he had briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders from Europe — including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — about the conversation.
He also noted that the Vatican, represented by the Pope, had expressed interest in hosting the negotiations. “Let the process begin!” Trump posted.
Zelensky confirmed that he spoke with Trump both before and after the Putin call. He said European leaders were now discussing further sanctions and exploring potential locations for a future round of talks, naming Turkey, Switzerland, and the Vatican as possible hosts.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said ahead of the call that Trump had grown “weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict” and was eager to see it end.
Yet despite Trump’s upbeat tone, the path to peace remains uncertain — and for now, Putin appears unmoved.