Russian President Vladimir Putin described his two-hour phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday as “very useful,” emphasizing that both nations are aligned in supporting the resumption of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev.
The call, which focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, marks a potential turning point in diplomatic efforts.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the call, Putin praised Trump for backing the direct dialogue now underway between Russia and Ukraine, which resumed last week in Istanbul after a three-year hiatus.
“Russia supports a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” Putin said. “We must simply identify the most effective path toward peace.”
Putin revealed that he and Trump had agreed on the need to develop a formal memorandum outlining the foundation for a future peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. The document would include proposed ceasefire timelines and key settlement principles.
Putin stated that Moscow will soon present a draft peace memorandum to Kiev:
“Russia will propose and be ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a potential future peace agreement, defining the terms of settlement and timeframe for a potential ceasefire.”
The proposal follows the most significant breakthrough in recent diplomacy: the agreement on a large-scale prisoner swap and the intention to continue high-level talks. Both sides reportedly agreed in principle to exchange 1,000 prisoners each and to submit written ceasefire proposals.
The Kremlin acknowledged that Trump’s push for renewed dialogue played a major role in restarting negotiations. Last week, Trump urged Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to accept Putin’s offer of talks and announced he could attend the next round in Türkiye if progress continues.
While Zelensky had initially demanded a 30-day ceasefire as a precondition, the latest developments suggest that both sides may now be more flexible in finding common ground.
Putin concluded that the situation is “generally steering in the right direction,” but added that compromise and mutual commitment are essential.
“The issue is, of course, that both Moscow and Kiev should demonstrate maximum desire for peace and find compromises that would satisfy all parties,” he said.
Whether a long-term resolution is truly within reach remains uncertain. Previous negotiations collapsed in 2022 after Kiev withdrew from a draft treaty—allegedly under pressure from Western backers. Russia has consistently maintained that any future agreement must address what it calls the root causes of the conflict, including NATO expansion and the status of newly integrated Russian territories.