Washington, March 18 — President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a highly anticipated call on Tuesday as the US pressed for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, aiming to pave the way for a broader peace deal.
The White House confirmed the call took place following US-led talks in Saudi Arabia, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio convinced senior Ukrainian officials to accept the ceasefire framework. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remained doubtful of Putin’s commitment to peace as Russian forces continued their offensive.
Ahead of the call, Trump said he expected to discuss the division of land and power plants seized during the three-year war. “What’s happening in Ukraine is not good, but we’re going to see if we can work a peace agreement, a ceasefire and peace. And I think we’ll be able to do it,” he told reporters on Monday.
The White House expressed optimism about the talks, despite Zelenskyy’s scepticism. Trump has made ending the conflict a top priority, even at the risk of straining ties with traditional US allies seeking tougher measures against Russia.
In preparation for the call, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow last week to discuss the proposal. Trump later revealed that Washington and Moscow had begun preliminary talks on “dividing up certain assets” between Ukraine and Russia as part of a potential peace deal.
