London – President Donald Trump is expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin at around 10 am ET on Monday, when the White House continues his encouragement to end the 3 -year -old Moscow invasion to Ukraine after last week’s peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey.
“The subject of the call is, stops the ‘bloodshed’ that kills, on average, more than 5,000 Russian troops and Ukraine a week, and trading,” Trump wrote in a post to his social website on Saturday.
“I will then talk to President Zelenskyy from Ukraine and then, with President Zelenskyy, various NATO members,” Trump added.
Direct contact was updated with Putin – The last direct telephone call known to the public between the two presidents took place in February – coming after Trump’s hopes for peaceful progress in Istanbul, Putin had refused to attend even though the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited to do it.
Istanbul’s conversation was the first known meeting between Moscow and Kyiv representatives since the spring of 2022, when the city of Türkiye became the host of the last round of peace negotiations that failed to end the ongoing Russian invasion.
After becoming clear Putin would not attend, Trump told reporters about peace efforts, “Nothing will happen until Putin and I gather, okay?”
This combination photo shows President Donald Trump on May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kremlin in Moscow, on May 10, 2025.
Ap
“And obviously he will not leave,” Trump added. “He will leave, but he thinks I will go. He doesn’t go if I’m not there. And I don’t believe anything will happen, whether you like it or not, until he and I gather, but we have to finish it, because too many people are dying.”
Trump’s repeated threat from further sanctions against Russia so far failed to trigger important changes in the purpose of the Moscow War – which, according to public statements by officials, still included Ukraine fibers against four regions – which were not fully controlled by Russian troops – added Crimea, and permanent blocks in KYIV accessions to NATO.
Putin said Sunday that every peaceful agreement with Ukraine had to “eliminate the causes that triggered this crisis” and “guarantee Russian security.”
Kyiv and European supporters still pushed a full 30 -day ceasefire, during that time they said peace negotiations could occur. Moscow has so far refused to support the proposal, showing that all Western military assistance to Ukraine must stop as part of a ceasefire.
The contact between us, Russian and Ukraine officials continued after the end of the discussion in Istanbul. On Saturday, State Secretary Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs Tammy Bruce said Rubio welcomed the prison exchange agreement achieved during the Istanbul meeting and emphasized Trump’s call for an immediately ceasefire.
Vice President JD Vance also met with Zelenskyy in the Vatican on Saturday, following Pope Leo XIV’s offer to host a bilateral meeting.
After the meeting, Zelenskyy wrote in X that he had “reiterated that Ukraine was ready to be involved in real diplomacy and underline the importance of full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible.”
“We have also touched the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, battlefield situations and future exchange of prisoners,” continued Zelenskyy. “Pressure is needed on Russia until they want to stop the war.”
Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Monday wrote in X that the Istanbul meeting highlighted the “striking difference” between Moscow and Kyiv. “Ukraine looks forward, focus on full ceasefire and immediately to start the actual peace process. Conversely, Russia is truly focused on the past, rejecting a ceasefire and instead spoke continuously about the Istanbul 2022 meeting, trying to make the same absurd demands as three years ago.”
“This is another reason why pressure on Russia must be increased,” added Sybiha. “Moscow must now understand the consequences of inhibiting the peace process.”
Meanwhile, long distance strikes on both sides continue. On Sunday night to Monday morning, the Ukraine Air Force said Russia launched 112 drones to the country, 76 of them were shot down or traffic jams. Damage was reported in five areas of Ukraine, said the Air Force in a post for telegram.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said on Monday morning that its troops had demeaned 35 Ukraine drones overnight.
A Ukraine soldier brought a mortar shell in the frontline position in the Ukraine Donetsk region on May 16, 2025.
Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters