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U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for two hours on May 19, 2025, in a high-stakes attempt to push forward ceasefire efforts in Ukraine. The call, one of the most direct diplomatic engagements since the full-scale war began in February 2022, ended without a breakthrough—but underscored renewed pressure for negotiations.

Trump proclaimed that Russia and Ukraine “will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire and, more importantly, bring an end to the wa,” after separate calls with the leaders of both countries. Meanwhile, Putin said he will “propose and is ready to work with” Ukraine on a “memorandum” outlining the framework for “a possible future peace treaty.” However, the details remain unclear, and key players remain divided on the path forward.

Trump, who also spoke with several European leaders on the same day, described the tone of his conversation with Putin as “excellent.” The conversation came just days after the first direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in threeyears, which led to a limited prisoner exchange but no halt to hostilities. The phone conversation was the third official conversation between Trump and Putin since Trump took office in January 2025.

Putin offers a memorandum pf peace treaty and a potential ceasefire

While Trump pushed for an immediate ceasefire, Putin made it clear he is not ready to commit to an unconditional ceasefire. “President Trump expressed his position regarding the cessation of hostilities,” Putin said, “but the most effective paths toward peace are still to be determined.”

However, Putin confirmed that “Russia is ready and will continue to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a potential future peace treaty outlining a number of positions, such as, for instance, settlement principles, the timeframe for signing a potential peace agreement, and so on, including a potential ceasefire for a certain period in case relevant agreements are reached.”

This position clashes with Ukraine’s firm demand for a full, unconditional ceasefire, a demand that was endorsed by Trump during previous discussions in March. A source from the Ukrainian President’s Office said that Ukraine continues to insist on this baseline requirement in ongoing talks with the U.S.

The disconnect raises concerns that Russia is seeking to drag negotiations into a gray zone of protracted diplomacy, while continuing its operations on the ground. Earlier this week, Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the war began, intensifying skepticism about Moscow’s true intentions.

Zelenskyy’s reaction and what Ukraine wants

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the latest diplomatic push by reiterating Ukraine’s commitment to a full and unconditional ceasefire. He called on the international community to maintain pressure on Moscow if it continues its invasion. “Ukraine doesn’t need to be persuaded — our representatives are ready to make real decisions. What’s needed is mirrored readiness from Russia for such result-oriented negotiations,” Zelenskyy said. He also called for tougher sanctions targeting Russia’s banking and energy sectors.

Zelenskyy expressed frustration with Moscow’s ambiguity, saying Russia doesn’t “know what they want” when it comes to ending the war. According to him, Russia has said it will draft a peace memorandum outlining its “principles,” but Zelenskyy added that he has not received any details about what those principles entail.

Outlining Ukraine’s stance, he emphasized that Kyiv has been clear about its demands: “a full ceasefire without any conditions or preconditions,” the exchange of prisoners, and the return of Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia. He also signaled interest in a potential “high-level” meeting involving Ukraine, Russia, the U.S., EU countries, and the UK, stressing that the U.S. must not distance itself from the process.

I spoke with @POTUS twice today. First, we had a one-on-one call before his conversation with the head of Russia, and later we spoke together with President Trump and European leaders President @EmmanuelMacron, Prime Minister @GiorgiaMeloni, Federal Chancellor @bundeskanzler,… pic.twitter.com/mm6a0Pro84

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 19, 2025

Trump rallies allies but warns of walking away

Trump’s diplomatic blitz extended beyond Moscow and Kyiv. In a post-call update, he revealed that he also spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen thanked Trump for his “tireless efforts” towards a ceasefire in Ukraine. Finnish President Stubb said that it is “important to continue close coordination between the United States and Europe.”

Good call with President @realDonaldTrump together with President @EmmanuelMacron, Prime Minister @GiorgiaMeloni and President @alexstubb, Chancellor @_FriedrichMerz and President @ZelenskyyUa to get debriefed from his call with President Putin.

I want to thank President Trump…

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 19, 2025

This multi-pronged effort appears aimed at coordinating a unified Western response, but Trump also signaled impatience. Vice President JD Vance warned earlier that if progress stalls, “We’re eventually going to say: ‘You know what? That was worth a try, but we’re not doing anymore.’” Trump’s tone, though optimistic publicly, reflects a growing weariness within his administration over repeated dead ends in the peace process.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump is “weary and frustrated with both sides” and is prepared to apply additional pressure, or walk away entirely, if tangible progress is not made soon.

Istanbul talks to continue

Putin’s reference to the recent resumption of Istanbul talks suggests Russia is trying to portray itself as open to diplomacy. “Contacts between participants in the Istanbul talks have resumed, which gives reason to believe that we’re on the right track,” he said. Yet so far, little has emerged from these negotiations beyond symbolic gestures like proposed prisoner exchanges.

Zelenskyy, who met with U.S. Vice President Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome just before Trump’s call with Putin, remains skeptical. He noted that the Russian delegation lacked real decision-making authority and reiterated Kyiv’s insistence on a full ceasefire before any broader settlement can be considered.

With Putin declining Zelenskyy’s offer for a personal meeting in Turkey and battlefield activity escalating, optimism remains fragile. France’s Macron and other European leaders continue to back Trump’s call for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, but no agreement has materialized.

The Russian military continues to maintain offensive pressure in eastern Ukraine, while Kyiv warns of missile threats and prepares defenses. In parallel, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that new sanctions remain an option if Russia does not engage in good faith.

Meanwhile, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink’s resignation continues to stir debate in Washington. Brink, who quit last month, criticized Trump’s approach as overly lenient toward Moscow. “Peace at any price is not peace at all,” she warned. “It’s appeasement.”

A turning point in the US-Russia-Ukraine diplomatic triangle

The Trump-Putin call has marked a turning point in the trilateral diplomatic efforts to achieve peace. Trump’s announcement that “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations” was headline-grabbing, but lacks a timeline, location, or confirmation from Kyiv.

Still, Trump insists that the tone was promising. “If it wasn’t, I would say so now, rather than later,” he said. But for many in Europe and Ukraine, tone matters less than action. With both sides still far apart on core issues, the question remains whether Trump can deliver the “deal of the century” or whether this war, already dragging into its third year, will continue to defy resolution.

pic.twitter.com/q5CPyHZkLD

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2025