Following recent phone conversations with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed cautious optimism regarding the prospects of peace between the two nations, which have been engaged in conflict since 2022.
While speaking with reporters outside the White House on Monday, President Trump was asked whether he believes Putin genuinely desires a peaceful resolution. “I do. Yes,” Trump responded. When pressed on whether he still trusts the Russian leader, he reaffirmed, “I do.”
Later in the day, during a White House event commemorating fallen law enforcement officers, Trump elaborated further on his belief that Putin is prepared to seek an end to the war. “I think he’s had enough. It’s been over three years. It’s a long time,” he said, suggesting that the duration of the conflict may be influencing Russia’s willingness to negotiate.
Trump’s confidence, however, appeared more reserved when speaking about Zelenskyy. When asked whether he believed the Ukrainian president was doing enough to advance the peace process, Trump replied, “I’d rather tell you in about two weeks from now, because I can’t say yes or no.”
Describing Zelenskyy as “a strong person” and “not the easiest person to deal with,” Trump acknowledged the complexity of the situation. “I think he wants to stop. It’s a very bad thing that’s happening over there. But I could answer that question better in two weeks or four weeks from now. I hope the answer is that he wants to get it solved.”
In a related statement, Trump praised newly installed Pope Leo XIV and suggested the Vatican could serve as a neutral venue for future negotiations. “There’s tremendous bitterness and anger, and I think maybe that could help ease some of that,” he remarked.
Trump and Putin reportedly spoke for two hours on Monday in what the U.S. administration described as part of an effort to persuade Russia to end its military campaign in Ukraine. Both leaders characterized the conversation as productive. The Kremlin called the dialogue “frank” and “useful,” while Trump took to social media to say the call had gone “very well.”
According to Trump, Russia and Ukraine are expected to begin negotiations immediately aimed at securing both a ceasefire and, ultimately, an end to the war. “The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it must be, because only they understand the details of such discussions,” Trump wrote.
Putin, in a subsequent statement, said that “a ceasefire with Ukraine is possible,” but emphasized that “Russia and Ukraine must find compromises acceptable to both sides.” However, the nature of those compromises remains unclear. Talks held in Turkey the previous Friday reportedly failed, which Trump attributed to the need for direct engagement between himself and Putin.
In the days leading up to the call with the Russian leader, Trump also held discussions with several other global figures, including Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Those conversations focused on the urgency of achieving a ceasefire, with European leaders warning that continued aggression would trigger additional sanctions against Russia.
As of now, Russian forces occupy approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory, though their advances have largely stalled in recent months. According to an October report by Fox News Digital, Russia has suffered an estimated 600,000 casualties since the war began—more than in any of its military conflicts since World War II.
