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In a surprise diplomatic move, US President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday that he has held phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the aim of reinvigorating stalled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The high-stakes conversation took place ahead of the NATO summit scheduled to take place in Türkiye this week.
According to a White House statement, Trump offered to facilitate a tripartite summit, involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, to facilitate negotiations towards a permanent ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. This diplomatic overture has been welcomed by all parties involved, although it remains to be seen whether it will translate into tangible progress on the ground.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump described his conversations with Putin and Zelensky as “very productive” and expressed his conviction that a negotiated settlement to the conflict would be in the best interests of all parties. He added that he had been in communication with both leaders on multiple occasions in the past but that their latest conversations represented a significant “new chapter” in US efforts to bring an end to the conflict.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which have seen scores of civilians killed and thousands displaced since the conflict began last year. Despite international efforts to broker a ceasefire, fighting has continued to escalate, sparking fears of a wider regional conflict.
While the US, EU, and UN have all imposed crippling sanctions on Russia in a bid to pressure Putin to pull back from the brink, Moscow has shown little sign of relenting. Trump’s willingness to engage directly with Putin marks a departure from the hawkish stance taken by his predecessor, Joe Biden, who has been scathing in his criticism of Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
Nonetheless, the US President’s offer to facilitate a US-mediated summit has been cautiously welcomed by both the Ukrainian and Russian governments, with both sides agreeing to explore the possibility of direct negotiations. As the world holds its breath, diplomats will be watching with bated breath to see if Trump’s initiative can help to unlock a path towards peace in Ukraine.