MOSCOW — Former President Donald Trump launched a fresh diplomatic initiative Monday, holding high-stakes phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and key European leaders in a bid to negotiate an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump announced on social media over the weekend that he aimed to halt the “bloodbath” and was optimistic about making progress through direct dialogue. His intervention follows last week’s tense but inconclusive negotiations in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian officials, during which both sides agreed to a prisoner exchange of 1,000 detainees each but failed to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Vice President J.D. Vance acknowledged before departing Italy that talks remain deadlocked. “Putin, honestly, seems uncertain about how to exit this conflict,” Vance said, while also signaling U.S. openness to stepping back if diplomacy stalls.
Over the weekend, Russia escalated its military campaign with what Ukrainian officials described as the largest drone assault since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Despite mounting international pressure, Putin claimed in a televised interview that Russia retains the capability to achieve its strategic goals, especially in the contested regions it claims to have annexed.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Monday that Trump is “deeply frustrated with both sides” but remains committed to seeking solutions. European leaders, meanwhile, are pressing Trump to support a new wave of sanctions and tariffs targeting Russian energy and banking sectors if ceasefire efforts fail.
Experts in Moscow remain skeptical of a breakthrough. Ivan Timofeev, Director of the Russian International Affairs Council, said the Kremlin believes time and military momentum are in its favor. “The sanctions hurt, but not critically. The Russian army is making gradual gains,” he noted.
As diplomacy intensifies, the world watches closely to see if Trump’s direct engagement can shift the course of a war now entrenched in its third year.