Update (1335ET): Confirming the optimistic readout from the Kremlin, President Trump just posted on TruthSocial stating that his call with Putin “went very well.” (emphasis ours)

Just completed my two hour call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. 

I believe it went very well. 

Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War. 

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. 

Russia wants to do largescale TRADE with the United States when this catastrophic “bloodbath” is over, and I agree. 

There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its Country. 

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will begin immediately. 

I have so informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, President Emmanuel Macron, of France, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of Italy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of Germany, and President Alexander Stubb, of Finland, during a call with me, immediately after the call with President Putin. 

The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations. 

Let the process begin!

And cue the European leaders and US neocons fuming over the potential for peace.

 

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Update(1300ET): Presidents Trump and Putin have ended their phone call, which lasted for more than two hours, according to RIA. This suggests some heavy lifting was done regarding peace in Ukraine, and restoring Washington-Moscow relations. Trump had reportedly phoned Zelensky just prior to speaking with Putin. It appears an overall ‘positive’ development, also given the emerging wire headlines:

• PUTIN CALLED HIS CONVERSATION WITH TRUMP USEFUL: TASS
• PUTIN: MEMORANDUM WITH UKRAINE MAY INCLUDE TRUCE TERMS: TASS
• RUSSIA READY TO WORK WITH UKRAINE ON FUTURE PEACE DEAL: TASS
• PUTIN SAYS HIS CONVERSATION WITH TRUMP WAS VERY MEANINGFUL: IFX
• PUTIN SAYS TRUCE IS POSSIBLE IF CERTAIN AGREEMENTS REACHED:TASS

But this Putin reference to “certain agreements” or conditions being reached will be the sticking point. Zelensky has repeatedly made clear “this is Ukraine’s land” when it comes to the annexed four eastern territories and Crimea.

Very likely, Putin pressed this point with Trump – that Zelensky is refusing any level of compromise (which is precisely what Kiev is currently accusing Moscow of doing).

As we await the call readouts from both sides, Vice President JD Vance’s latest remarks upon returning to the US from Rome lay out where things stand:

Meanwhile…

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President Trump is expected to hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, followed by a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – after they were first announced Saturday.

Writing in all caps, the president posted over the weekend to Truth Social, “The subjects of the call with be, stopping the ‘bloodbath’ that is killing, on average, more than 5000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade.”

He continued in the statement by saying “hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end.” His highly optimistic note ended with “God bless us all!!!” – again written in all caps.

Trump has further indicated he’ll be in contact with “various” NATO leaders related to these ceasefire efforts, coming on heels of the Friday meeting between Russian and Ukrainian delegations – the first such direct engagement since efforts at talks ceased within the opening months of 2022 and the war’s start.

The NY Times has previewed:

The call, which Mr. Trump said would take place at 10 a.m. Eastern, would be the third known phone conversation between the two men since the American president’s second term began. The first two, which took place in February and March, were celebrated in Moscow as signs of weakening Western resolve to isolate and punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

And the Kremlin issued the following Monday:

“The conversation is important, taking into account the negotiations held in Istanbul,” Peskov said. “As for the talks, we [in the Kremlin] have already said everything we could, we underscored the basic points,” he added. “We will now wait for it. We will give the maximum information possible based on the results of the conversation,” he stated.

There was little concrete which came out of the meeting, other than a new POW swap – which is to involve 1,000 captives returned on either side – and declarations that each side is open to meeting a gain.

Still, the warring sides are far apart in terms of conditions, with Zelensky having reasserted on Friday, “In all discussions – and I emphasize this – and this is my unwavering position – we do not legally recognize any of our temporarily occupied territories as Russian. This is the Ukrainian land.”

Just ahead of the Putin-Zelensky calls at the White House on Monday:

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed the US administration’s thinking on how things are really going at this point. He reiterated to CBS News’ ‘Face the Nation’ on Sunday that the White House will not tolerate endless negotiations which simply drag the war and killing on further.

“On the one hand, we’re trying to achieve peace and end a very bloody, costly, and destructive war. So there’s some element of patience that is required,” he began by acknowledging.

“On the other hand, we don’t have time to waste. There are a lot of other things happening in the world that we also need to be paying attention to. So we don’t want to be involved in this process of just endless talks. There has to be some progress, some movement forward,” he then emphasized.

The US is currently examining competing ceasefire proposals offered by each side. “If those papers have ideas on them that are realistic and rational, then I think we know we’ve made progress,” he said.

The following is reportedly among Moscow’s top list of demands, which can be described as maximalist (at least from the West’s perspective), per a recent Bloomberg report:

• Ukraine agreeing to neutral status regarding NATO
• No foreign troops in Ukraine
• No nuclear weapons in Ukraine
• De-facto recognition of Crimea and lost eastern territories as now Russia’s
• Withdrawal of Kiev forces from these territories before a ceasefire takes effect

But Ukraine has rejected the Kremlin’s demand of de-facto recognizing the loss of its territories. Zelensky has time and again vowed to fight on, despite mounting losses and serious manpower issues.

The White House is likely to latch on to anything positive regarding these talks that it can; however, President Trump has clearly been exerting pressure for more speedy resolution, and is growing impatient.

The Europeans are ready to slap more sanctions on Moscow, and Washington has also warned that this would essentially be plan B if Russia doesn’t cooperate. But Russia’s fresh maximalist demands will be a hard sell.