Putin signals willingness to strike peace deal with Ukraine after call with Trump

In a pivotal development that could reshape the trajectory of the Ukraine conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced May 19 that Moscow is ready to work with Kyiv on a potential peace accord — following a two-hour phone conversation with US President Donald Trump.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on May 19 cast doubt on Russia’s willingness to engage in meaningful ceasefire negotiations, following a round of high-level calls with Trump and several European leaders.

Speaking from the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, Putin credited Trump with facilitating renewed diplomatic momentum between Russia and Ukraine, which recently resumed direct face-to-face negotiations in Turkey for the first time since March 2022.

“We have agreed with the President of the United States that Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a possible future peace accord,” Putin said, according to Reuters. He added that both parties would need to define the terms and timeline for a ceasefire.

While no formal deadlines were set, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that the two leaders discussed a framework for ending hostilities and broached the subject of a potential prisoner swap — nine Russians for nine Americans. The aide also quoted Trump as calling the prospects for future US-Russia ties “impressive.”

The war, now stretching into its fourth year, has seen repeated diplomatic breakdowns, heavy casualties, and a fractured global order. But Putin appeared to strike a more conciliatory tone, saying efforts were “generally on the right track.”

“The main thing for us is to eliminate the root causes of this crisis,” he added. “We just need to determine the most effective ways to move towards peace.”

On his Truth Social platform, President Trump echoed Putin’s sentiment, calling the call “very good” and announcing that talks for an immediate ceasefire would begin without delay. Trump also revealed he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to push forward negotiations.

While Putin still frames the conflict as a defensive response to what he views as Western overreach—citing NATO expansion and historical grievances from the fall of the Soviet Union—his readiness to engage in peace discussions marks a rare public pivot.

The international community, led by Ukraine, the US, and key European allies, continues to call for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire as a critical first step. Whether this latest diplomatic thaw will lead to lasting peace remains to be seen—but for now, the stage is set for talks that could bring an end to one of the most volatile conflicts of the 21st century.

'Not sure if Russia is ready'

While reiterating Ukraine’s readiness to implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire — a proposal reportedly initiated by Trump—Zelenskyy questioned Moscow’s sincerity, citing a deep-rooted mistrust and a lack of concrete gestures from the Kremlin.

“We’re prepared to halt the fighting without preconditions,” Zelenskyy said. “But I don’t yet understand Russia’s true position. From what I gathered in my conversation with President Trump, Moscow intends to send over a memo outlining their so-called ‘principles.’ It’s not just about a ceasefire — they’re asking for more.”

Zelenskyy stressed the human cost of continued conflict and the urgent need to end the war. “Too many lives have already been lost. We want peace—but we’re not convinced Russia is ready. That’s what we need from them: to prove they’re serious, starting with a ceasefire as the first step.”

The Ukrainian leader emphasized his ongoing coordination with international allies, saying, “I always keep our partners informed—the U.S., the Europeans. I welcomed President Trump’s call for an unconditional ceasefire. We’ve been ready. That’s our position: ceasefire first, then further steps like a prisoner exchange.”

Zelenskyy’s remarks come in the wake of renewed diplomatic outreach, including direct communication with Trump and European heads of state, as Kyiv signals its willingness to enter talks—provided Moscow takes tangible action toward de-escalation.