WASHINGTON, USA — President Donald Trump on Monday, May 19, 2025, declared that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to permanently end their years-long war will begin “immediately,” following a pair of high-level phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House shortly after the calls, said the talks would be led by the two warring nations, with the terms to be determined by Kyiv and Moscow.
“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,” Trump said.
“Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will begin immediately.”
Trump confirmed that he had also spoken to key European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
The consultations took place after his two-hour call with Putin.
“The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations,” Trump added.
“Let the process begin!”
The call with Putin was the third publicly disclosed conversation between the two leaders since Trump’s return to the presidency in January 2025.
Officials familiar with the matter said the discussions have become increasingly direct in recent weeks, as Trump presses for a swift resolution to what he continues to describe as a “bloodbath” in eastern Europe.
Trump’s latest move follows growing frustration with Moscow’s slow pace in agreeing to peace terms.
Russian President Putin has previously stated that a ceasefire could not be considered without addressing what he called the “root causes” of the conflict, including NATO’s role in the region and Ukraine’s aspirations to join the alliance.
The conflict, which began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale invasion in 2022, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions.
Though frontlines have remained relatively static in recent months, Russian forces continue to occupy nearly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory.
While Zelenskyy has not yet issued a public statement on the proposed talks, Ukrainian officials have long insisted that any peace deal must uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Trump’s approach, however, has appeared to signal openness to territorial concessions, having previously suggested that Ukraine “doesn’t have the cards” to win outright and that NATO expansion was a root cause of the conflict.
The potential involvement of the Vatican as a host for the peace talks adds a significant diplomatic dimension, with the Holy See having long expressed willingness to mediate the war.
Whether the parties can bridge the deep divides that have defined the war remains uncertain.
However, Monday’s announcement marks the most concrete sign yet that a political settlement may be on the table — and under the direct influence of the United States.
Further details on the structure, timing, and participants of the proposed negotiations have not yet been released.
The White House said additional statements would follow pending consultations with both sides and allied governments.
