Trump and Putin: New hope for ceasefire in Ukraine?

Trump and Putin: New hope for ceasefire in Ukraine?

President Donald Trump opened new opportunities for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on May 20, 2025 in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump sees the path for "immediate" conversations about a ceasefire as free, which he announced on the Truth Social platform. During the conversation, Putin expressed his willingness to work with Kiev on a "memorandum" for a possible peace agreement. Trump described the phone call as "awarded" and then informed the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj and European heads of state and government about the discussions.

Putin himself described the phone call as "useful" and emphasized the need for "maximum willingness to peace" and compromises. However, he did not comment on Trump's proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Selenskyj showed his willingness to examine Putin's proposal to develop a memorandum, but excluded a withdrawal of Ukrainian troops.

claims and concerns

A central argument in the negotiations is Russia's demand for a withdrawal of Ukraine from the annexed regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Cherson and Saporischschja. Trump's influence of telephone could be rejected here because Selenskyj previously warned not to make any decisions about Ukraine without us ". Despite Trump's positive assessment of the dialogue, European and Ukrainian partners were concerned about his attitude to question the sanctions against Russia. European Allies announced that he would increase the pressure on Russia through sanctions, while Trump signals that he would rather normalize US relationships with Russia.

Trump also made it clear that he was “skeptical” compared to new sanctions because he wants to avoid tightening the situation. Critics see a strategy in Russia's urgent conversations about a final deal to continue military offensive.

future peace negotiations

The discussions about a possible peace dialogue take place in a wider international context. Observers emphasize that the United States would have to exert maximum pressure in order to advance a real peace process. Putin gave the impression that he had enough of the current conflict and was looking for a solution, but it remains unclear whether this will lead to real changes in the negotiations.

Selenskyj has already presented a ten-point peace plan, which includes essential demands such as the restoration of territorial integrity and the end of the Russian occupation. The negotiations could possibly also be supported by the Vatican or other neutral places, such as Turkey or Switzerland, which Trump also promised.

The international community, including the G7 countries, remains vigilant with the course of the talks, whereby clarity about the future role of the United States and the integrity of the previous support for support for Ukraine is necessary. Trump has positioned himself as an intermediary, but the various requirements of both sides and the geopolitical realities raise questions about whether this approach can actually contribute to the defusing of the conflict.

For the implementation of future peace negotiations, compliance with agreements and the willingness to compromise on compromises is of crucial importance. Observers express concerns that Trump may unintentionally support Russian interests if he did not exert stringent on Ukraine's demands.

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