Trump Plans Talks with Putin on Ukraine Ceasefire Amid Complex Negotiations

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his plans to hold discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday regarding efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during a return flight from Florida, Trump expressed optimism about the potential for progress following recent discussions between U.S. and Russian officials in Moscow.
"We want to see if we can bring that war to an end," Trump stated, acknowledging both the challenges and opportunities in the negotiations. "Maybe we can, maybe we can't, but I think we have a very good chance." He further noted that significant groundwork had been laid over the weekend in preparation for the talks with Putin.
Trump is seeking Putin’s support for a proposed 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine has already agreed to, despite the continuation of intense aerial strikes from both sides over the weekend. Meanwhile, Russian forces have made advances in their efforts to push Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region in western Russia. The Kremlin has yet to issue an official response regarding Trump's planned discussion.
On Friday, the Kremlin indicated that Putin had conveyed a message about the ceasefire proposal to Trump through U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who recently visited Moscow. According to Russian officials, Putin expressed "cautious optimism" about the possibility of reaching a deal to bring an end to the three-year conflict.
Despite this development, U.S. officials have cautioned that significant obstacles remain. Appearing on American news programs over the weekend, U.S. envoy Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz acknowledged that further negotiations are necessary before a ceasefire can be finalized. When asked about the possibility of a peace agreement allowing Russia to retain control over occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, Waltz responded by questioning whether it was realistic to expect Russian forces to withdraw entirely. Rubio emphasized that any lasting agreement would require "hard work" and "concessions from both Russia and Ukraine."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy recently expressed cautious optimism about the ceasefire proposal but reiterated his stance that Ukraine’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. Kyiv has consistently maintained that Russia must relinquish control of all occupied territories, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014, and the regions seized since the 2022 invasion.
Russia Seeks Security Guarantees
As part of any potential peace agreement, Russia is demanding firm guarantees that Ukraine will remain neutral and be barred from joining NATO, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko. Speaking in an interview with the Russian news outlet Izvestia, Grushko stressed that Moscow requires "ironclad security guarantees" that Ukraine will not be admitted into the military alliance.
Russian officials argue that NATO’s expansion has posed a security threat to Moscow, a justification frequently cited by President Putin for the invasion. In addition to demanding Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations, Russia is seeking to maintain control over occupied territories, limit the size of Ukraine’s military, and push for the removal of Western sanctions. The Kremlin has also insisted that a presidential election be held in Ukraine, a demand Kyiv has dismissed as premature due to ongoing martial law.
The Role of Peacekeeping Forces
Trump’s recent shift in U.S. foreign policy, which has leaned toward a more conciliatory stance with Moscow, will be put to the test as Russia weighs its response to the ceasefire proposal. His administration has at times portrayed Ukraine as a difficult negotiating partner, particularly following a tense meeting between Trump and Zelenskiy at the White House last month.
European nations and the UK have asserted that Ukraine must be actively involved in any negotiations regarding a ceasefire or broader peace deal. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently stated that Western allies are preparing to increase support for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Military leaders are expected to finalize "robust plans" next week, including potential peacekeeping missions.
France and the UK have both expressed willingness to deploy peacekeeping forces to monitor a ceasefire in Ukraine. However, Russia has firmly rejected the idea of foreign troops on Ukrainian soil, arguing that any NATO-affiliated presence—whether under the EU, NATO itself, or individual national banners—would amount to direct involvement in the conflict.
Grushko suggested that while Russia would consider allowing unarmed observers or civilian monitoring groups, foreign military deployments were unacceptable. "If they appear there, it means they are deployed in the conflict zone with all the consequences that entails," he warned.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the decision to accept peacekeeping forces ultimately rests with Kyiv, not Moscow.
As the situation unfolds, the international community is closely watching whether Trump's engagement with Putin can lead to tangible progress toward peace, or if longstanding disputes will continue to hinder negotiations.