U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a two-hour phone conversation, according to reports from Russian state media cited by Al Jazeera.
The call, which took place on Monday, May 19th at 5 PM local time, focused on ending the war in Ukraine, according to the Russian news agency TASS, citing Kremlin sources.
TASS reported that Putin stated Russia is prepared to work with Ukraine towards a potential future peace agreement. If both sides reach an agreement, a temporary ceasefire could be implemented.
The report also indicated that Putin described the discussion as constructive, open, and highly effective. He emphasized that Russia favors ending the war, but that a mutually acceptable agreement is necessary.
Putin thanked Trump, saying that the U.S. has facilitated direct discussions between Russia and Ukraine. He also stated that Russia is prepared to draft a memorandum for a ceasefire proposal.
Following the call with Putin, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, describing the conversation as "excellent." He wrote that Ukraine and Russia would soon begin talks for a ceasefire and, more importantly, end the war.
Trump further stated that discussions on ceasefire terms would take place between Ukraine and Russia, as they are the most knowledgeable about the situation. He added that he would also speak with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and then NATO leaders regarding the matter.
