US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Monday. His goal is to help stop the ongoing “bloodbath” in Ukraine.
Previously, Trump urged Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire without conditions. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov confirmed that preparations for the call are underway.
Putin-Zelenskyy Meeting Depends on Agreement
Earlier that day, the Kremlin stated that Russian President Putin would only meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if both countries reach some kind of agreement. This statement followed the first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in over three years.
As a result of Friday's meeting, both nations agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each.
Drone Strike Kills Civilians in Sumy
Later on Saturday, a Russian drone struck a minibus transporting civilians in Ukraine’s eastern Sumy region. According to local officials, the attack killed nine people and injured five others. Among the victims was a family of three.
After the incident, President Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s actions and criticized its refusal to agree to a ceasefire. He also called for tougher international sanctions, saying, “Without stronger sanctions, without stronger pressure on Russia, there will be no real diplomacy there.”
Next Step: Leader-to-Leader Talks
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the negotiation team, said that the next move should be a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.
In response, the Kremlin acknowledged the possibility but insisted it could only happen after certain agreements are reached.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added, “We consider it possible, but only as a result of the work and upon achieving certain results in the form of an agreement between the two sides.”
Ceasefire Proposals to Follow Prisoner Swap
Furthermore, Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said both sides will soon present their ideas for a potential ceasefire. However, he did not specify a timeline.
The Kremlin emphasized that the prisoner swap must be completed first before any new talks begin.
“For now, we need to do what the delegations agreed on yesterday,” said Peskov, referring to the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap discussed in Turkey.
According to Ukraine’s intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, the swap could happen as soon as next week.
Trump Will Also Speak With NATO and Zelenskyy
Later on Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would speak with Putin on Monday about ending the “BLOODBATH.” After that, he plans to speak with NATO officials and Zelenskyy. He expressed hope that a ceasefire will follow and the war will come to an end. Trump added that nothing meaningful would happen until he met Putin face-to-face.
U.S. Welcomes Progress on Prisoner Swap
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the prisoner exchange in a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. In a CBS interview, Rubio said Lavrov informed him that Russia is preparing a document outlining its ceasefire demands. Rubio stated, “If Russia and Moscow can both provide serious and viable proposals, then there’s been real progress, and we can work off of that.”
Violence Continues in Donetsk and Kherson
Despite ongoing talks, heavy fighting continues. The Russian army claimed it captured the village of Oleksandropil in Donetsk, where some of the fiercest battles are taking place.
Additionally, Russia launched more attacks across eastern Ukraine using drones and missiles. These strikes killed six people and injured over a dozen.
In Kherson, Russian shelling struck a truck delivering humanitarian aid.
Zelenskyy Says Putin Fears Real Talks
Zelenskyy accused Putin of avoiding serious negotiations by not attending the Istanbul talks.
“Yesterday in Istanbul, everyone saw a weak and unprepared Russian delegation with no significant powers. This must change. We need real steps to end the war,” Zelenskyy stated.
He urged the world to react strongly if the talks failed and called for new sanctions.
Western Allies Consider More Sanctions
In response, French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe is working with Washington to prepare additional sanctions in case Russia refuses to agree to an unconditional ceasefire. At the same time, Zelenskyy spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about the need for fresh and more effective sanctions on Moscow.
Russia’s Territorial Demands Remain a Problem
During the Istanbul talks, Ukraine revealed that Russia made “unacceptable” territorial demands. Russia currently claims five Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and four others seized since the 2022 invasion. Because of this, reaching a final peace deal remains difficult.