US President Donald Trump announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, amid a barrage of social media posts that included conspiracy theories and demands on Walmart.
Trump stated that the subjects of his call with Putin would be stopping what he called the “bloodbath” war in Ukraine, killing over 5000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers each week. He will follow this call with separate conversations with Zelenskyy and NATO leaders as part of a US effort to end the war.
However, Trump’s efforts have been criticized for being ineffective, particularly after his previous criticism of Ukraine and freezing military aid. The US has imposed tariffs on several countries, including Russia, leading Walmart to warn it will raise prices for customers in response.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy recently mourned the death of nine civilians in a Russian drone strike, urging for an unconditional ceasefire. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also called for an end to the war, stating that “the death and destruction must stop”.
It remains unclear whether Trump’s calls will lead to any progress in the peace process, given his past criticisms of Ukraine and lack of clear diplomatic solutions.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/17/trump-putin-zelenskyy-social-media-clintons-walmart