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Putin Says Trump Call Focused on Ceasefire and Path to Peace Talks

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Liubava Petriv
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Putin Says Trump Call Focused on Ceasefire and Path to Peace Talks
Russian leader Vladimir Putin speaks during a Russian-Malaysian bilateral meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace, May 14, 2025 in Moscow, Russia. (Source: Getty Images)

On May 19, Russian leader Vladimir Putin held a press conference following a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump. The discussion focused on the potential for restarting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

During the press appearance, Putin described the exchange as “substantive and frank,” stating:

“Indeed, this conversation took place and lasted more than two hours. I would like to note that it was very substantive and quite candid. Overall, in my opinion, it was quite useful.”

Putin claimed that Trump expressed US support for renewing direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, which, as he put it, “were suspended by the Ukrainian side back in 2022”:

“I thanked the President of the United States for US support in resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine regarding a potential peace agreement.”

He went on to say that both leaders shared views on a ceasefire and that Russia is open to peaceful settlement:

“The US President expressed his position regarding a cessation of hostilities, a truce. For our part, we also emphasized that Russia supports a peaceful resolution of the situation.”

Putin referred to the potential development of a memorandum, which might include a temporary ceasefire, stating:

“We need to define the most effective ways to move toward peace… including a possible temporary cessation of hostilities if corresponding agreements are reached.”

He also claimed that contacts between participants of the previous Istanbul talks have resumed, calling this a “sign that we are generally on the right track.”

In his remarks, Putin framed Russia’s goal as addressing what he described as the “root causes” of the war, adding:

“The key issue is that both the Russian and Ukrainian sides show maximum commitment to peace and find compromises that would suit all parties involved.”

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump ahead of Trump’s announced May 19 call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to a source cited by the national telethon.

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