WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is ready to work toward ending the fighting in Ukraine on Monday following a two-hour phone call with President Donald Trump.
Putin said Russia was in favor of a “peaceful settlement” and that compromises would need to be found to suit both parties. He also described the conversation with Trump as “frank and meaningful.”
The White House did not immediately provide its own account of the call.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the conversation “important,” citing last week’s talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian officials, the first such negotiations since March 2022.
The high-stakes calls come on the heels of Russia launching its largest drone attack since the war’s beginning. Trump also plans to hold a separate phone call Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. speak with NATO leaders.
Trump said over the weekend he hoped for a “productive day” and renewed his push for a ceasefire in Ukraine, saying that talking directly to Putin was crucial.
Zelenskyy: Russia doesn’t want to end war in Ukraine
Zelenskyy met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV’s first papal mass at the Vatican on Sunday.
Zelenskyy’s office said he thanked the United States for continued aid but also said he believes Russia doesn’t want to end the war.
Last week’s peace talks in Turkey marked the first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in three years. However, the discussions were conducted at a lower diplomatic level than the U.S. had hoped, after Putin opted not to sit down with Zelenskyy.
Still, both sides agreed to an exchange involving 1,000 prisoners. Ukraine has accepted a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia has yet to agree.
Russia batters Kyiv with deadly strikes
The urgency surrounding the ceasefire efforts has intensified after a deadly weekend of attacks.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched more than 270 drones, hitting areas in Kyiv and eastern regions, killing at least one person and injuring three others.
The strikes are the largest known series of drone strikes since the war began three years ago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.