Trump announces phone call with Putin

The two presidents will discuss the Ukraine conflict and trade on Monday, according to the US leader

RT: FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump ©  Global Look Press / Hu Yousong

US President Donald Trump has announced he will have a phone call on Monday with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. It will focus on “stopping the ‘bloodbath’” between Moscow and Kiev and trade issues, he said in a post on Truth Social on Saturday.

Following the call with Putin, Trump also plans to speak to Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky and “various members of NATO,” he said. The US president also expressed hope that Monday will be a “productive day” and “a ceasefire will take place.” It is not clear if he expects a truce to be agreed upon on Monday or at a later date.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to TASS that Moscow is making preparations for the phone call between Trump and Putin. He did not provide any further details.

The Russian and Ukrainian delegations spent nearly two hours talking in Istanbul, Türkiye, in the first direct negotiations between the two sides in around three years.

They agreed to a major prisoner exchange involving 1,000 POWs from each side, and decided to continue contacts once each party prepares a detailed ceasefire plan and presents it to the other side.

Earlier on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the results of the Istanbul talks in a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which was initiated by the American side, Moscow said.

Rubio welcomed the agreements reached by the Russian and Ukrainian delegations and reaffirmed Washington’s readiness to further contribute to the peace process.

Lavrov hailed the “positive role” the US played in bringing Kiev to the negotiating table and expressed Moscow’s readiness to work with Washington on resolving the Ukraine conflict.

Speaking to Fox News on Friday, Trump expressed optimism about reaching a settlement. “I have a very good relationship with Putin. I think we’ll make a deal. We have to get together, and I think we’ll probably schedule it.”

Earlier on Friday, the US president said he is ready to meet with Putin “as soon as we can set it up.”