US President Donald Trump has said that “many elements” of a potential peace agreement in Ukraine have been agreed upon ahead of his planned call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday morning.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that while progress had been made, significant issues remained unresolved. “Each week brings 2,500 soldier deaths from both sides, and it must end NOW. I look very much forward to the call with President Putin,” he wrote.
Speaking to reporters earlier, Trump expressed optimism about reaching a resolution. “We’re going to see if we can work a peace agreement, a ceasefire and peace, and I think we’ll be able to do it,” he said.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly address on Monday, accused Moscow of prolonging the conflict. “This proposal could have been implemented long ago,” he said, stressing that “every day in wartime means human lives.”
Diplomatic divide
There have been conflicting statements from US officials regarding the progress of ceasefire negotiations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently met with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, said discussions had focused primarily on the “process of negotiations” rather than specific conditions. Similarly, US envoy Steve Witkoff, who held talks with Putin in Moscow last week, has been cautious in his remarks.
Meanwhile, key European leaders have called on Russia to demonstrate its commitment to peace. French President Emmanuel Macron lauded Zelensky’s willingness to engage in a ceasefire, challenging Moscow to reciprocate. “Enough deaths. Enough lives destroyed. Enough destruction. The guns must fall silent,” he posted on X.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged Putin to accept a “full and unconditional ceasefire now,” telling the British Parliament that there was “no sign” of serious intent from the Russian side. He also warned that Western allies had “more cards to play” should Moscow refuse to negotiate in good faith.
Key issues on the table
The White House has taken a more optimistic stance, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that peace in Ukraine has “never been closer.” She indicated that one of the points of discussion in Tuesday’s call would be the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has remained under Russian control since March 2022. The facility, the largest in Europe, has been a persistent source of concern due to ongoing military activity in the area.
Trump, when asked about possible concessions in ceasefire talks, suggested discussions would include territorial issues and infrastructure. “We’ll be talking about land. We’ll be talking about power plants […] We’re already talking about that, dividing up certain assets,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, declined to comment on the agenda of the call, stating, “We never do that.”
Putin, while previously expressing support for a ceasefire, has insisted on several conditions, including the exclusion of NATO forces from the region. Another contentious point is the Russian border region of Kursk, where Ukraine launched a military incursion last August. Russia claims to have fully regained control of the area in recent weeks.
Saudi talks and western response
The current ceasefire proposal was discussed last week in Saudi Arabia between Ukrainian and American representatives. Following hours of deliberation, negotiators proposed a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has signaled readiness to accept.
French President Macron and newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who met on Tuesday, reiterated their countries’ “unwavering” support for Ukraine and stressed the need for “clear commitments” from Russia.
