Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak with U.S. President Donald Trump in a scheduled phone call on Tuesday. The leaders are expected to discuss efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Trump aiming to secure a 30-day ceasefire.
"Yes, that’s how it is. Such a conversation is planned for Tuesday," Peskov said, though he declined to comment on Trump’s specific remarks about territorial concessions and control of power plants.
Trump Optimistic About Ceasefire Prospects
Trump announced his intention to speak with Putin during a flight to Washington, D.C., on Sunday evening. "A lot of work's been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end," he told reporters aboard Air Force One. "Maybe we can, maybe we can't, but I think we have a very good chance."
The U.S. president indicated that the talks would address contentious issues, including territorial disputes and control of key infrastructure. "We'll be talking about land. We'll be talking about power plants," Trump said, adding that negotiators had already discussed "dividing up certain assets." While he did not provide specifics, Trump was likely referring to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, Europe’s largest such facility, which has been under Russian control since early 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of endangering the plant’s safety.
Challenges Remain in Negotiations
Despite Trump’s optimism, significant hurdles remain in achieving a lasting ceasefire. Special envoy Steve Witkoff, who recently visited Moscow to advance negotiations, described discussions with Putin as "positive" and "solutions-based." However, he avoided addressing more contentious aspects of the proposed truce, such as whether Russia would demand the surrender of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, a halt to Western military aid to Ukraine, or recognition of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories as part of Russia.
Last Thursday, Putin expressed support for a truce but emphasized that several unresolved issues needed further discussion, including the status of Ukrainian troops in Kursk. Moscow has also rejected proposals by France and the United Kingdom to deploy European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, insisting that such a move would infringe on Ukrainian sovereignty.
French President Emmanuel Macron, however, argued on Saturday that Ukraine’s sovereignty should not be subject to Russian approval. "If Ukraine requests allied forces to be on its territory, it is not up to Russia to accept or reject them," Macron told several newspapers.
Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
The upcoming call between Trump and Putin follows a series of diplomatic engagements, including a Sunday conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The two reportedly discussed "next steps" after recent meetings in Saudi Arabia aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, the international community remains divided over how to achieve a sustainable peace. Tuesday’s call between the U.S. and Russian leaders could mark a critical juncture in the conflict, though significant challenges persist in bridging the gap between the two sides.