US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to engage in a crucial phone call this week, as the international community intensifies its efforts to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. This development comes on the heels of a proposal by the United States, following talks in Saudi Arabia, which was accepted by Ukraine but met with a lukewarm response from Putin.
According to Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for the conflict, the phone call between the two leaders is expected to be “really good and positive.” Witkoff, who recently met with Putin, expressed optimism about the prospects of a constructive discussion between Trump and Putin.
Meanwhile, tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high, with Ukraine accusing Russia of launching 90 Iranian-made Shahed drones onto nine Ukrainian regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been vocal in his criticism of Putin, accusing him of “lying” about the complexities of implementing a ceasefire.
The international community is increasingly pressing Russia to accept a ceasefire, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer accusing Putin of “dragging his feet” on the issue. The UK hosted a virtual summit on Ukraine, where Starmer emphasized the need for Russia to stop its “barbaric attacks on Ukraine once and for all.”
Despite the challenges, diplomatic efforts continue, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreeing to remain in contact and work towards restoring communication between the United States and Russia.
As the situation remains fluid, all eyes are on the upcoming phone call between Trump and Putin, which could potentially pave the way for a breakthrough in the conflict..
