It was arranged today for U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold a telephone discussion on Monday morning. Trump announced today on Truth Social: “I WILL BE SPEAKING, BY TELEPHONE, TO PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF RUSSIA ON MONDAY, AT 10:00 A.M. THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE ‘BLOODBATH’ THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK, AND TRADE. I WILL THEN BE SPEAKING TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY OF UKRAINE AND THEN, WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, VARIOUS MEMBERS OF NATO. 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. GOD BLESS US ALL!!!”
Trump’s announcement followed a discussion between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry:
“On May 17, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the initiative of the U.S. side. The heads of foreign policy offices shared opinions on the outcomes of the Russian-Ukrainian talks held the previous day in Istanbul.
“Marco Rubio welcomed the agreements reached on the exchange of prisoners of war and the intention of each side to prepare its own proposals outlining the conditions necessary for a ceasefire. He reaffirmed Washington’s readiness to continue supporting efforts towards a negotiated settlement.
“Sergey Lavrov acknowledged the constructive role played by the United States in encouraging Kiev to finally accept President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to resume negotiations in Istanbul. He reiterated Moscow’s willingness to continue working with U.S. colleagues in this context.
