U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday regarding efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump revealed that discussions have already begun about dividing certain assets between the two warring nations.
During a conversation aboard Air Force One, Trump stated:
“I think we’ll be talking about land… we’ll be talking about power plants. We have already discussed a lot with both sides, Ukraine and Russia.”
His remarks suggest that the negotiations may involve territorial adjustments and infrastructure control as part of a potential ceasefire agreement.
Optimism Grows for Ceasefire Deal
U.S. officials expressed optimism on Sunday, suggesting that a ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia could be reached within weeks. This comes after Washington proposed a halt in fighting, an initiative Kyiv has accepted following peace talks held in Saudi Arabia.
Trump’s special envoy for the conflict, Steve Witkoff, told CNN that he expects Trump and Putin to have a positive discussion:
“The two presidents are going to have a really good and productive conversation this week. Trump really expects there to be some sort of deal in the coming weeks, and I believe that’s the case.”
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains skeptical about Russia’s willingness to negotiate. On Saturday, he accused the Kremlin of stalling, arguing that Moscow intends to improve its position on the battlefield before agreeing to any ceasefire terms.
U.S.-Russia Diplomatic Channels Remain Active
Meanwhile, diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow continues. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the next steps in implementing agreements reached at the Saudi Arabia summit in February.
“Sergei Lavrov and Marco Rubio agreed to remain in contact,” the Russian Foreign Ministry stated, without directly mentioning the U.S.-proposed ceasefire.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce later clarified that the conversation focused on restoring communication channels between the U.S. and Russia to navigate the ongoing crisis.
UK Calls Out Russia’s Stalling Tactics
At a virtual summit on Ukraine, hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, world leaders criticized Russia’s delay tactics in the ceasefire negotiations.
“The ‘yes, but’ from Russia is not good enough,” Starmer said, calling for an immediate end to the war and urging Putin to stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Ukraine reported on Sunday that Moscow had launched 90 Iranian-made Shahed drones on nine Ukrainian regions, demonstrating that hostilities remain intense.
Looking Ahead: Will a Ceasefire Materialize?
With Trump and Putin set to discuss the war, the next few weeks could determine whether a ceasefire agreement is feasible. While Washington and Kyiv’s European allies continue to pressure Moscow to end the conflict, Putin’s reluctance to accept conditions raises concerns about Russia’s true intentions.
As negotiations unfold, the world will closely watch whether the discussions lead to a genuine peace deal or if the war in Ukraine will persist with further escalations.
