U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will speak separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, May 19, in what he calls a renewed effort to end the war that has ravaged Eastern Europe for over two years.
Trump made the announcement via a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating:
“I will speak with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday at 10:00 a.m. The call will focus on ending the ‘blood feud’ that is killing more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers weekly, as well as trade. Then, I will speak with President Zelensky of Ukraine, followed by a broader call with Zelensky and various NATO members. We hope it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will occur, and this incredibly violent war—which never should have happened—will come to an end. God bless us all!”
Trump’s initiative comes amid heightened violence and ongoing peace negotiations in Istanbul, which have yet to yield lasting results. His engagement signals a potential shift in U.S. diplomatic involvement, should he seek to formalize a role in conflict mediation ahead of the 2024 presidential campaign re-engagement.
While the White House has not confirmed any official involvement or endorsement of these calls, Trump’s outreach is drawing international attention, especially from NATO allies who have expressed skepticism about backchannel diplomacy that bypasses official government channels.
Whether these talks will lead to a breakthrough ceasefire, or merely serve as a symbolic gesture, remains to be seen.
