Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are scheduled to speak by phone on Tuesday, with hopes from US officials that the two leaders could reach an agreement on a ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
A US official expressed optimism that the conflict, which has dragged on for over three years, could end within "weeks."
Trump previously stated that significant progress had been made between the US and Russia toward resolving the Ukraine crisis, mentioning a "very good chance" for the end of hostilities. Putin, while agreeing with the idea of a ceasefire, expressed concerns over how it would be implemented and wished to discuss these issues with Trump during their call.
Kyiv has agreed to the ceasefire proposal, but European allies have criticized Putin for not committing to an immediate and unconditional halt in the fighting. The UK, in particular, accused the Russian leader of "dragging his feet." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the upcoming call but did not elaborate on the specific topics the two leaders would discuss.
This phone call follows Trump’s recent diplomatic efforts with Moscow, including a meeting between Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin in Moscow last Thursday. Witkoff presented details of a joint ceasefire plan, which proposes a 30-day pause in hostilities. Witkoff expressed expectations of a potential deal "in the coming weeks."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reacted angrily to Putin’s remarks, accusing him of trying to prolong the conflict. Zelensky warned on Saturday that Moscow aims to "improve their situation on the battlefield" before agreeing to any ceasefire.
Russia's Continued Offensive
Meanwhile, Russia has pressed on with military action. Moscow claimed its forces had captured the village of Stepove in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, although open-source battlefield maps show it remains outside of Russian control. Over the past two weeks, Russia has also launched a significant counteroffensive against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
Moscow also retook Sudzha, a town seized by Ukraine during its 2024 summer incursion, and areas surrounding it. Russia has reportedly moved several hundred civilians who were trapped in Kyiv-controlled areas.
Increased Hostilities
The fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces intensified on Monday. Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on southern Russia, sparking a fire at an oil refinery, while Russia retaliated with a massive drone assault, sending nearly 200 drones against Ukraine. The attacks caused power outages in Ukraine’s Odesa region, leaving around 500 people without electricity, and one person was reported injured.
Putin's Ceasefire Demands
Putin has reiterated that he would support a ceasefire only if it leads to "long-term peace" and addresses the root causes of the crisis. Among his conditions are that Ukraine never join NATO, no European peacekeepers be deployed on Ukrainian soil, and Russia retain control of the land it currently occupies. Since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and its full-scale offensive in 2022, Moscow has controlled around 20% of Ukraine’s territory.
Zelensky has rejected these demands, accusing Putin of not genuinely seeking peace.
In the Kursk region, displaced Ukrainian resident Yekaterina Panova expressed hope that Trump could mediate a peaceful resolution. “We really want America to somehow influence Russia’s relationship with Ukraine," she said. "Both Russians and Ukrainians are Slavs. It's just some kind of fratricide going on.”
