U.S. President Donald Trump held separate calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday as part of renewed efforts to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Though no truce was reached, both nations agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war, offering a rare sign of progress in otherwise stalled peace negotiations.
According to the White House, Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with both leaders as the war continues into its third year. “He’s grown weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday, adding that Trump is pushing for a peaceful resolution. His discussions also involved key NATO leaders and are seen as a high-stakes test of his self-styled reputation as a dealmaker.
The Associated Press reported that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described Trump’s conversation with Putin as “important,” especially following recent talks in Istanbul, which marked the first official negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since early 2022. Those talks, however, ended quickly and without agreement on a ceasefire. Trump’s approach, according to aides, is focused on direct diplomacy, with one of his envoys, Steve Witkoff, saying Trump believes his personal influence can help break the deadlock. “I think it’s going to be a very successful call,” Witkoff said.
Still, concerns remain about the implications of Trump’s posture toward Russia. Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, who resigned last month, criticized the administration for putting more pressure on Ukraine than on Russia. “Peace at any price is not peace at all,” she said. “It’s appeasement, and as we know from history, appeasement only leads to more war.”
While both countries failed to agree on a ceasefire last week in Istanbul, the announcement of a large-scale prisoner exchange marked a positive step. Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, told Ukrainian television the exchange could occur as early as this week.
Trump had previewed the calls on his social media platform over the weekend, writing that he hoped to “stop the bloodbath” and end a war he claimed should never have started. His administration is reportedly considering additional sanctions against Russia if Putin refuses to negotiate seriously. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBC’s Meet the Press that Trump is prepared to escalate economic pressure if needed.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy, who met with U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on Sunday, said Russia had only sent a low-level delegation to the Istanbul talks. He reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to real diplomacy and emphasized the need for sustained pressure on Russia. “The Russians sent a low-level delegation of non-decision-makers,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “Pressure is needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war.”
European leaders also joined in support of Trump’s ceasefire initiative. French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that Putin must accept the proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which has the backing of Ukraine and other European nations.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Russia launched a massive drone assault over the weekend targeting Kyiv, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk, underscoring the urgent need for de-escalation. According to Ukraine’s air force, it was the largest drone barrage since the war began, with 273 explosive drones and decoys launched in a single night.
As calls for peace intensify, world leaders are watching closely to see whether Trump’s direct intervention can yield a breakthrough in one of the world’s most enduring and destructive conflicts.
