U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, marking what will be their third known conversation since February.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that preparations are underway for the phone call.
The announcement was made via Trump’s Truth Social platform, where he posted: I WILL BE SPEAKING, BY TELEPHONE, TO PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF RUSSIA ON MONDAY, AT 10:00 A.M. THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE ‘BLOODBATH’.
The statement reflects Trump’s apparent belief that the war in Ukraine can only be resolved through direct dialogue between himself and the Russian leader. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump said, “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together.”
This marks a notable shift in Trump’s public position on the conflict. Until recently, he had framed the war as an issue to be resolved between Kyiv and Moscow, urging both sides to negotiate. Just last month, upon arriving in Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral, Trump claimed on Truth Social that Ukraine and Russia were “close to a deal” and should “finish it off.”
Even as recently as last Sunday, Trump backed Putin’s proposal for direct peace talks to take place between Ukraine and Russia, demanding that Ukraine to accept the offer.
Trump’s pivot toward direct intervention appears to have been influenced by recent diplomatic turbulence in Turkey. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Ankara this week, reportedly demanding a one-on-one meeting with Putin and threatening to abandon talks. According to reports, both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. intermediaries advised Zelensky to send a delegation instead—a move he ultimately made, though only after a 24-hour delay.
The week’s negotiations concluded with the largest prisoner swap of the war—1,000 captives exchanged on each side—and both Russia and Ukraine reportedly working to establish terms for a potential ceasefire. However, substantial gaps remain between the two sides, and there is no indication a final agreement is near.