U.S. President Donald Trump is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. This conversation could mark a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine. Trump announced this call while aboard Air Force One, flying from Florida to Washington. The Kremlin confirmed Putin’s participation shortly after.
Trump mentioned that progress had been made over the weekend and expressed hope that they might have something positive to share by Tuesday. He stated, “We want to see if we can bring that war to an end.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the planned discussion but did not provide details, emphasizing that the contents of their talks would not be disclosed in advance.
European allies are watching closely, given Trump’s known affinity for Putin and his critical stance towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This scrutiny comes after Zelenskyy’s recent visit to the White House, which sparked significant debate.
While Russia’s initial goal of quickly toppling Ukraine failed three years ago, it still controls substantial territories in the country. Trump indicated that their talks would involve discussions about land and energy resources, referring to the potential division of certain assets. He mentioned, “We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants.”
In the backdrop of these discussions, Russia has illegally annexed four Ukrainian regions since its full-scale invasion in 2022, although it does not fully control any of them. The regions include Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Last year, Putin demanded Ukraine withdraw its troops from these areas as a condition for peace.
Additionally, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited Moscow last week to further negotiations. The situation remains tense, particularly around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been at the center of international concern due to the risk of a nuclear incident.
As Trump prepares for this high-stakes conversation, he also continues to push forward with his economic plans, including tariffs set for April 2. He believes these measures will help reclaim wealth lost under previous administrations.
This upcoming call between Trump and Putin is seen as a critical opportunity that could influence the future of the war in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape.