Trump to ask Putin to stop ‘bloodbath’ in Ukraine peace call

President Donald Trump is scheduled to have a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, as part of the ongoing efforts by the White House to bring an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The call follows last week’s peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, where progress was hindered by Putin’s absence despite an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump took to his Truth Social website to outline the topics that will be discussed during the call, including the urgent need to stop the escalating violence that is claiming the lives of thousands of soldiers from both Russia and Ukraine each week, as well as trade agreements between the two countries. Following his conversation with Putin, Trump is set to speak with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and later engage with various members of NATO.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the call is set to take place at 5 p.m. Moscow time, with discussions expected to center around the recent talks in Istanbul. Peskov emphasized the importance of the conversation in light of the peace negotiations and expressed the Kremlin’s readiness to provide updates based on the outcomes of the call.

The absence of Putin at the Istanbul talks underscored the challenges in reaching a resolution to the conflict, with Trump stressing the need for direct engagement between him and Putin to make progress. Despite threats of sanctions from the U.S., Moscow has not shown any significant shift in its war objectives, which include territorial demands on Ukraine and a block on its NATO membership.

Both sides continue to engage in long-range strikes, with reports of drone attacks from Russia and Ukrainian air force interceptions. The ongoing violence highlights the urgency for a ceasefire and meaningful peace negotiations. Ukrainian officials have reiterated their commitment to ending the conflict through diplomatic means, while calling for increased pressure on Russia to comply with peace efforts.

As the conversation between Trump and Putin approaches, the international community remains hopeful for a breakthrough that could pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ukraine. Stay tuned for updates on the developments following the high-stakes call between the two world leaders.