U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that there is a “strong possibility” the war between Russia and Ukraine could end following “productive” discussions between American officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
“We had very good and productive talks yesterday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and there is a strong chance that this terrible and bloody war will finally come to an end,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that he urged Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops who are “completely surrounded.”
The U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff, held an extended meeting with Putin in Moscow on Thursday evening.
Ceasefire Proposal and Moscow’s Response
Trump did not confirm whether he personally spoke with Putin, but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed that the Russian leader sent Trump a message regarding his ceasefire proposal.
“When Mr. Witkoff delivers all the information to President Trump, we will determine the timing of their conversation. There is reason for cautious optimism,” Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
On Thursday, Putin expressed support for the U.S. ceasefire proposal but emphasized that some details must be resolved first, particularly the supply of Western weapons to Kyiv. He stressed that any agreement should lead to a long-term peace, addressing the root causes of the war—hinting at NATO expansion.
Despite the Kremlin’s “cautious optimism,” Ukraine remains skeptical of Moscow’s sincerity in ending the war, now in its fourth year.
Zelensky Questions Putin’s Motives
In a late-night video on March 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cast doubt on Putin’s intentions.
“Moscow is imposing conditions on the ceasefire to delay any real progress or stall negotiations for as long as possible,” Zelensky stated.
Putin faces a dilemma: Earlier this week, Ukrainian and U.S. delegations agreed to Trump’s 30-day ceasefire proposal during a meeting in Saudi Arabia, putting pressure on Moscow to respond.
Trump’s Push for a Ceasefire
Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has prioritized ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He swiftly dispatched senior officials to Moscow and Kyiv to lay the groundwork for negotiations.
On Wednesday, Trump called on Russia to accept the proposed 30-day ceasefire, warning that he would impose additional sanctions if Moscow rejected it.
Putin’s Concerns Over Ceasefire Conditions
Putin has raised multiple concerns about the ceasefire terms, including:
- Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August 2024 and whether Ukrainian forces will withdraw.
- Western rearmament of Ukraine during the ceasefire period.
- Supervision of the ceasefire along the 2,000-kilometer front line.
“Who will determine where and who violated the ceasefire?” Putin asked.
Military analysts warn that Russia may drag out ceasefire negotiations, as its forces currently hold the battlefield advantage. Moscow seeks to consolidate control over the four Ukrainian regions it claimed to annex in 2022—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. A ceasefire now could prevent Russia from achieving its territorial goals.
