Will Russia and Ukraine Start Ceasefire Talks Soon?

Synopsis
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump announces that Russia and Ukraine will begin ceasefire negotiations, with the Vatican offering to mediate. This follows a series of discussions aimed at ending the prolonged conflict. Can this be the turning point for peace in the region? Read on for more details.
Key Takeaways
- The US President has announced the initiation of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine.
- The Vatican has offered to mediate the discussions.
- Trump emphasized the importance of trade relations post-conflict.
- Negotiations will be directly between the parties involved.
- Optimism regarding the tone of discussions has been expressed.
Washington, May 20 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine will initiate ceasefire discussions, with the Vatican expressing its willingness to host these talks.
This revelation followed a two-hour telephone discussion with President Vladimir Putin. Trump then shared the conversation details with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky during a separate call and briefed other European leaders.
“I just finished a productive two-hour call with President Putin. I believe it went very well. Russia and Ukraine will commence negotiations for a ceasefire immediately and, more importantly, seek an end to the ongoing war,” Trump stated in a detailed post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
Efforts to facilitate Russia-Ukraine discussions have been inconsistent amid Trump's attempts to conclude the three-year conflict. Last week, there were plans for direct talks between Putin and Zelensky in Turkey, but Putin did not attend. Although Trump, who was touring West Asia at the time, hinted at attending, he ultimately did not.
The terms for the ceasefire will be “established between the two parties, as they are the ones who understand the intricacies of the negotiations that no one else would be aware of. The tone of our conversation was very positive. If it weren’t, I would be honest about it now,” Trump elaborated.
“Russia aims to engage in extensive trade with the United States once this devastating ‘bloodbath’ concludes, and I concur. There exists a significant opportunity for Russia to generate substantial employment and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Similarly, Ukraine stands to gain immensely from trade during its reconstruction phase. Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will commence promptly,” he continued.
Trump highlighted in his post that he had “notified” President Zelenskyy, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, and President Alexander Stubb of Finland.
Finally, he noted, “The Vatican, represented by the Pope, has expressed a strong interest in hosting the negotiations. Let the process commence!”