Trump Claims Fruitful Dialogue with Putin Just Before Zelensky Meeting

Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he had a «productive» conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin just hours before his meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky. This dialogue comes at a critical time as Trump aims to finalize a peace arrangement amid the ongoing conflict.

Despite Trump’s optimistic comments, there remains considerable skepticism across Europe regarding Putin’s true intentions, particularly after Russia launched a significant bombardment on Kyiv while Zelensky was traveling to Trump’s estate in Florida.

«I just had a very productive phone call with President Putin of Russia,» Trump shared on his Truth Social platform.

The Kremlin provided a more detailed account, indicating that Trump concurred that a simple ceasefire would only extend the conflict and urged Ukraine to make territorial concessions.

Trump is scheduled to meet Zelensky in the dining room of his Mar-a-Lago estate, which he often uses to host both foreign dignitaries and local supporters.

During his anticipated second term, Trump has positioned the resolution of the Ukraine conflict as a top priority, branding himself as a «president of peace,» while consistently attributing the lack of a ceasefire to both Kyiv and Moscow.

Zelensky, who has faced criticisms from Trump, is trying to demonstrate his readiness to engage with the U.S. leader’s plans, yet there have been no indications from Putin that he will accept them.

This will be the first in-person meeting between Trump and Zelensky since October, when Trump denied Zelensky’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles.

The Ukrainian leader could find it challenging to persuade Trump this time as the U.S. president has stated that nothing would be provided without his approval.

Their discussions are anticipated to last around an hour, followed by a joint call involving key European allies.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who will participate in the call, commented on X that Russia’s strikes on Kyiv contrasted with Trump’s expectations and came despite Zelensky’s expressed willingness to compromise.

A revised peace proposal, which developed from extensive U.S.-Ukraine discussions, aims to halt the war along the current front lines and may require Ukraine to withdraw troops from eastern areas, facilitating the establishment of demilitarized buffer zones.

This proposal represents Ukraine’s most explicit acknowledgment thus far of the possibility of territorial concessions.

However, it does not suggest Ukraine retreating from the 20% of the eastern Donetsk region that it still controls, which remains Russia’s principal territorial demand.

Zelensky expressed hope that the Florida talks would yield «very constructive» results, yet emphasized that Russia’s recent drone and missile attacks on Kyiv—a strike that temporarily disrupted power and heating for hundreds of thousands during a cold spell—demonstrated Putin’s unwillingness to pursue peace.

«This assault is yet again Russia’s response to our peace overtures, clearly showing that Putin does not desire peace,» he remarked during a visit to Canada.

Zelensky also mentioned he would urge Trump to prioritize security guarantees that would deter any future Russian aggression if a ceasefire is achieved.

«We need robust security assurances. We will discuss this and outline the terms,» he stated.

Ukraine continues to assert the need for increased funding and military aid, particularly concerning drones, from both European nations and the U.S.

Russia has accused Ukraine and its European allies of attempting to undermine a prior U.S.-initiated plan for halting hostilities, with recent territorial advances—Russia reported on Saturday the capture of two additional towns in eastern Ukraine—bolstering Moscow’s position in future peace discussions.

«If the authorities in Kyiv are unwilling to address this situation peacefully, we will resolve all issues through military means,» Putin declared on Saturday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conveyed to the state-run TASS news agency that Moscow would maintain dialogue with U.S. negotiators but criticized European governments for being the «main hurdle» to achieving peace.

«They are openly signaling their intentions to prepare for war against Russia,» Lavrov remarked, adding that the ambitions of European leaders are «blinding» them.