The Lead
'Constructive Trump-Putin Call,’ in a Countdown for Either Rescue or Catastrophe in Ukraine and Gaza
by Marcia Merry Baker (EIRNS) — May. 19, 2025
Today U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a two-hour phone call they each described as constructive and useful, in support of further work toward resolving the Ukraine crisis. Trump spoke with Ukraine acting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before Trump’s call with Putin, and afterward, he briefed several NATO nations, as planned.
Ukraine and Palestine are two places in the world right now clearly on a countdown for resolution, one way or the other: either for rescue and reconstruction, or for complete devastation and even all-out, potentially nuclear war.
Schiller Institute President Helga Zepp-LaRouche described the strategic situation in these terms today, saying that we stand at a “breakpoint” in world history. We are an “exhaustion point” in these two crises. “It’s either catastrophe or a new paradigm. We are crashing against the wall of the end of civilization.”
Among the important interventions right now, is the newly issued “Open Letter to Pope Leo XIV,” which is gathering signers from around the world. Because of the Pope’s Inaugural Mass on Saturday, May 17, the Vatican became a meeting ground for many world leaders this past weekend. Today U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV.
For the Russia-U.S. leadership call today, Putin was in Sochi, at a music school there; and Trump was in the White House. They were each positive in their descriptions of the call. Trump wrote on his Truth Social site, “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.…”
President Putin, in Sochi, spoke to the press after the call. He said “We agreed with the President of the United States that Russia would propose and is ready to engage with the Ukrainian side on drafting a memorandum regarding a potential future peace agreement. This would include outlining a range of provisions, such as the principles for settlement, the timeframe for a possible peace deal, and other matters, including a potential temporary ceasefire, should the necessary agreements be reached.”
He added, “I would like to reiterate that the conversation was highly constructive, and I assess it positively. The key issue, of course, is now for the Russian side and the Ukrainian side to show their firm commitment to peace and to forge a compromise that would be acceptable to all parties. Notably, Russia’s position is clear. Eliminating the root causes of this crisis is what matters most to us.”
However, Trump specified in his posted report on his call with Putin, that Trump has briefed the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Finland, and Ukraine, as well as the President of the European Commission that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are to begin immediately. He wrote, “The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations. Let the process begin!”
In Gaza the situation is beyond horror. Over the weekend “Operation Gideon’s Chariot” was unleashed by the IDF, with sweeping ground operations in Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged to do, as soon as President Trump departed from his visit to Southwest Asia. The very few remaining hospitals were hit, including the Indonesian Hospital in the north. More homes and families have been wiped out. Today, Israel conducted over 30 air strikes in less than an hour in Khan Younis.
At the same time, Netanyahu has made a mock gesture toward allowing food into Gaza after a total ban on entry of food and humanitarian aid of any kind since March 2. Reports are that today five trucks carrying baby food made entry at Karem Abu Salem crossing. Four more trucks are said to be approved for tomorrow. Contrast this to 500 trucks a day before the IDF starvation policy went into effect.
UN networks confirmed they will distribute this aid, while at the same time they are speaking out for full-scale aid. A group of 22 nations issued a joint statement today acknowledging “indications of a limited restart of aid” permitted by Israel, but calling for much more. Canada, France and Britain, among the 22, also issued their own tripartite joint statement today, including backing for the June UN High Level International Conference on Palestine.
Meantime, the wheels are turning to implement U.S.-IDF collaboration in a shameful pretense of food aid for Gaza. The concept is food concessionaires for a death camp. American food and security vendors are contracting with the private, newly established Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (Swiss-registered), headed by American Jack Wood. One U.S. contractor company is said to be the Safe Reach Solutions firm, just started up in November 2024 by a former CIA official. Their operations are to partially start up in Gaza by the end of the month.
Backing is urgently needed for the LaRouche Oasis Plan approach—for immediate, full-scale life-saving action for all Palestinians, and for full-scale construction of conditions for productive life throughout the greater Southwest Asia region. Gaza reconstruction is a priority on the agenda for world development. It is a priority to have dialogue about this.
Plan to participate, and spread the word on this May 24-25 Memorial Day weekend’s international Schiller Institute conference, “A Beautiful Vision for Humanity in Times of Great Turbulence!”
Contents
Strategic War Danger
- Israel's Operation 'Gideon's Chariots' Now in Full Gear (↓)
- Israel Submits to Minimal Food for Gaza To Appease Allies (↓)
- Merz Wants German Army To Be Biggest in Europe (↓)
U.S. and Canada
New World Paradigm
History and Culture
- Jeffrey Sachs, in Two Interviews, Emphasizes Continuing Influence of British Geopolitics (↓)
- U.S. Returns Ancient Silk Manuscripts to China (↓)
Harley Schlanger Update
Watch The Daily Update with Harley Schlanger, a short video update available every weekday morning from The LaRouche Organization.
