Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will meet on Monday. The ceasefire talks will take place in Malaysia. Earlier, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim invited both leaders to discuss ways to end the conflict.

US Pressure Forces Dialogue

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned both nations to stop the violence. He said the US would end trade deals with them if the fighting continued. On Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken with both leaders. He said, “the US will not pursue trade agreements while hostilities persist.” Shortly after, he announced that both sides had agreed to begin ceasefire negotiations.

Cambodia Supports Ceasefire; Thailand Is Cautious

On Sunday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said his country supports “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.” He added that Trump told him Thailand had also agreed to stop attacks following talks with Phumtham. To move things forward, Hun Manet assigned Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn to coordinate with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Thailand’s foreign minister.

In response, Thailand gave cautious support. Phumtham thanked Trump and said Thailand agreed to a ceasefire “in principle.” However, he stressed the need for Cambodia to show “sincere intention.” He also urged fast bilateral talks to discuss concrete steps for peace.

Fighting Rages Despite Ceasefire Talks

Even so, violence continued over the weekend. The clashes began on Thursday after a landmine blast injured five Thai soldiers. Both countries blamed each other for starting the conflict.

On Sunday, Thai army spokesperson Col. Richa Suksowanont accused Cambodian forces of shelling Surin province. He said homes were damaged and the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple was hit. In retaliation, Thai troops used long-range artillery.

Col. Richa stated, “Ceasefire on the battlefield will only take effect once Cambodia formally initiates negotiations.”

Accusations Continue from Both Sides

Furthermore, Thailand’s foreign ministry accused Cambodia of acting in bad faith. It claimed Cambodia repeatedly violated human rights and international law.

On the other hand, Cambodia accused Thailand of making things worse. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata from Cambodia’s Defence Ministry said Thai troops had invaded Cambodian land with tanks after artillery attacks. She added, “These actions completely derail any path toward peaceful dialogue and demonstrate a clear intention to escalate the conflict.”

Civilians Bear the Brunt of War

Meanwhile, the civilian toll is rising. Thailand reported one more soldier killed on Sunday, bringing its death toll to 21—most of them civilians. Cambodia said it lost 13 lives.

So far, more than 131,000 people have fled their homes in Thailand. Over 37,000 Cambodians have evacuated from three border provinces. Entire villages are now empty. Schools and hospitals have shut down.

Among those displaced, Pichayut Surasit, a technician, rushed back to Surin province to protect his family. “I just want peace so we can go home again,” he said.

Nearby, Bualee Chanduang, a vendor who fled with her family and pet rabbit, said, “I pray that both governments come to their senses and stop this war.”

Global Calls for Restraint

At the same time, the UN Security Council called on ASEAN to help resolve the crisis. Human Rights Watch also condemned the use of cluster bombs, which are banned under international law. The group urged both governments to prioritize civilian safety.

Border Dispute Has Deep Roots

Thailand and Cambodia have fought over their 800-kilometre border for decades. Although earlier flare-ups were brief, the current fighting follows a deadly clash in May. That incident killed a Cambodian soldier and worsened diplomatic ties.

Now, with Monday’s peace talks ahead, the international community hopes both sides will finally end the bloodshed and restore calm.