US President Donald Trump plans to speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone on Monday about ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump’s call with Putin will focus on stopping the “bloodbath” in Ukraine, while his conversation with Zelenskyy will be about a ceasefire. The US president has expressed frustration with stalled talks and threatened to abandon his efforts if results aren’t achieved.
The Kremlin confirmed preparations for Monday’s call with Trump, while Ukrainian officials said the country is poised to become weaker unless powerful sanctions are imposed on Russia and arms deliveries continue from the US.
On Saturday, a Russian drone hit a bus evacuating civilians from Bilopillia, killing nine people. The attack has sparked international condemnation, with Ukraine’s European allies calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Trump’s remarks come after the first direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in years failed to yield a ceasefire. Putin had rejected Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s offer to meet face-to-face in Turkey.
The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, had also suggested that the Vatican could be a venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks. However, the Kremlin has pushed back against proposals for a temporary ceasefire as a first step towards a peaceful settlement.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drone-strike-sumy-e90d68ea2ef45f329a4cda16e200c141