Putin pursues war as Trump call fails to strike peace prospects

What we know about the phonecall

On May 19th, US President Donald Trump failed to achieve any progress toward peace in Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin when the two world leaders spoke over the phone about ending the conflict. 

Putin revealed what Trump wants

In the hours after what was reported to be a two hour phone call with Trump, Putin said Trump "expressed his position regarding the cessation of hostilities, a ceasefire" but he had yet to determine the “most effective path toward peace.”

Russia is ready to work toward peace

The Kyiv Independent reported on Putin’s comments following the call, which saw him Putin reporters he agreed with Trump that “Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a possible future peace treaty.”

Defining a peace agreement

"It might define a number of positions, for example, the principles of settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement, and so on, including a possible ceasefire for a certain period of time if the relevant agreements are reached,” Putin said about the memorandum. 

No Russian commitment to a ceasefire

However, despite the promising words from Putin, he did not commit to ending the war and reportedly told Trump that Russia’s position had not changed. Russia requires that the “root causes" of the war be eliminated according to The Kyiv Independent. 

Trump got little from a key moment

Trump seems to have gotten little out of a phone call that many hoped would finally be the beginning of the end to a conflict that has devastated Ukraine since Putin gave the Russian Armed Forces orders to invade the country in February 2022.

No 30-day ceasefire support from Putin

The Guardian reported that the White House had framed the phone call as one to get Putin to support the US-led 30-day unconditional ceasefire, a proposal which Ukraine has already agreed to support. However, Putin reportedly declined to offer his support for such a ceasefire. 

Trump’s message on Truth Social

Despite what looks like a public loss in the foreign policy arena, Trump published a very happy message on Truth Social about the call. It outlined his thoughts on the discussion and offered up a reason why Russia should strike a peace deal with Ukraine. 

“I believe it went very well”

“Just completed my two hour call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia,” the President wrote. “I believe it went very well. Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.”

Russia and Ukraine will negotiate

“The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of. The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent. If it wasn’t, I would say so now, rather than later,” Trump added. 

Trump touted the benefits of trade with Russia

Trump then dove into a short rant touting the benefits of doing business with Russia for both countries when the war was over. He stated there was a “tremendous opportunity” for trade, jobs, and wealth with the potential being “unlimited.”

Peace negotiations at the Vatican

Trump also informed other key world leaders about the call and called out the new Pope specifically for this offer to host peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv at the Vatican. This was an offer made after Putin failed to show up at his proposed peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 15th according to Politico. 

Zelensky’s comments on the situation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly spoke with Trump before the call according to several news sources. BBC News reported Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to a “full and unconditional ceasefire” after his talk with Trump but warned if Moscow wasn’t ready for peace then there should be “stronger sanctions.”

Negotiations require all sides and powers

Zelensky also said that peace negotiations "must involve both American and European representatives at the appropriate level" and that it was "crucial for all of us that the United States does not distance itself from the talks and the pursuit of peace, because the only one who benefits from that is Putin." 

Trump said the US would stay involved

Trump later said at a White House event that the United States wouldn’t step away from brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine but also claimed he had a “red line in his head” regarding when he would stop pushing for peace between the two states 

Zelensky and Trump spoke again

The Kyiv Independent reported that Zelensky also spoke to Trump again by phone after his call with Putin according to a source in Zelensky’s office. The second call lasted an hour and included several leaders from the European Union.