Kremlin, Russia – The Kremlin delivered a stark warning on Sunday, stating that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump believe a temporary ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict would only serve to prolong the war. This significant diplomatic development emerged just hours before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago.
Putin and Trump’s Phone Call Discussion
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov revealed crucial details about the telephone conversation between Putin and Trump, emphasizing their shared perspective on proposed peace arrangements. The call took place ahead of the US leader’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida, setting the stage for critical negotiations.
According to Ushakov, the phone call between Putin and Trump was characterized by a cordial tone and lasted approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. The conversation occurred at Trump’s request, demonstrating the US President’s proactive approach to resolving the Ukraine conflict.
“The entire conversation took place in a friendly atmosphere. They agreed to speak again by telephone after the meeting between the US president and Zelensky,” Ushakov stated, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two leaders.
Shared Opposition to Temporary Ceasefire
The most significant revelation from the Putin-Trump discussion was their mutual stance against implementing a temporary ceasefire. Ushakov emphasized that both presidents hold remarkably similar views on this critical issue, which has been proposed by Ukrainian and European officials.
“The main thing is that the presidents of Russia and the United States hold similar views that the option of a temporary ceasefire proposed by the Ukrainians and the Europeans under the pretext of preparing for a referendum or under other pretexts only leads to a prolongation of the conflict and is fraught with renewed hostilities,” Ushakov explained.
This unified position suggests that both leaders prefer a comprehensive, permanent solution rather than a temporary ceasefire that might create false hope while potentially allowing both sides to rearm and regroup. The Kremlin’s concern centers on the belief that such an arrangement would merely postpone inevitable military confrontations rather than resolve underlying disputes.
Russia’s Demands on Donbas Region
Beyond rejecting the temporary ceasefire proposal, Russia articulated specific conditions for ending the conflict. Ushakov stated that Ukraine must make a “brave decision” to withdraw its troops “without delay” from the Donbas region to “put an end” to the hostilities.
The Donbas region has remained one of the most contentious territorial issues throughout the conflict. Russia’s insistence on Ukrainian troop withdrawal from this strategic area represents a core demand that has complicated peace negotiations since the conflict’s inception. This territorial question continues to pose the greatest challenge to achieving any lasting resolution beyond a temporary ceasefire.
Trump’s Pre-Meeting Statement
Prior to his scheduled meeting with Zelensky, Donald Trump publicly confirmed his conversation with Putin, characterizing it as productive and positive. The US President shared details about the call and his upcoming engagement with the Ukrainian leader through his Truth Social platform.
“I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting at 1:00 PM today with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The meeting will take place in the main dining room of Mar-a-Lago. Press is invited. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote.
Trump’s transparent communication style and willingness to engage with both parties demonstrates his administration’s commitment to mediating the conflict. By scheduling back-to-back diplomatic engagements, Trump positioned himself as a central figure in facilitating dialogue between the warring nations.
Diplomatic Strategy and Future Conversations
The arrangement for Putin and Trump to speak again after the Trump-Zelensky meeting indicates a coordinated diplomatic approach. This sequential communication strategy allows Trump to gather Ukrainian perspectives, share relevant information with Putin, and potentially bridge gaps between the conflicting parties.
The “friendly atmosphere” described by Ushakov suggests that despite disagreements over the temporary ceasefire concept and territorial issues, both leaders maintain open channels of communication. This diplomatic rapport could prove crucial in navigating the complex negotiations required to end the protracted conflict.
Implications for Peace Negotiations
Russia’s explicit rejection of a temporary ceasefire, coupled with its territorial demands, sets clear parameters for what Moscow considers acceptable terms for ending hostilities. The alignment between Putin and Trump on rejecting short-term solutions suggests that future negotiations will focus on comprehensive, permanent arrangements rather than interim measures.
The temporary ceasefire proposals from Ukraine and European partners were reportedly framed around preparing for referendums or other transitional processes. However, Russia’s characterization of such arrangements as mere pretexts indicates deep skepticism about the motivations behind these proposals.
As Trump proceeded with his Mar-a-Lago meeting with Zelensky, the international community watched closely to see whether the US President could leverage his relationships with both leaders to forge a path toward lasting peace that transcends the limitations of a temporary ceasefire.
