Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper ) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will hold a phone conversation between 1300 and 1500 GMT on March 18, 2025, to discuss settling the Ukraine conflict and normalising ties between Russia and the United States, the Kremlin said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that there was a “certain understanding” between the two leaders, as a result of their telephone call on February 12 and subsequent high-level communications between the two countries.
“But there are also a large number of questions regarding the further normalisation of our bilateral relations, and a settlement on Ukraine. All of this will have to be discussed by the two presidents,”
Peskov explained to reporters.
“The leaders will speak for as long as they deem necessary,”
He said.
Can Trump persuade Putin to accept a Ukraine ceasefire?
According to the report, U.S. President Donald Trump will discuss with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an attempt to persuade his counterpart to assume a ceasefire in Russia’s war with Ukraine and bring about a more permanent conclusion to the three-year conflict. The high-stakes meeting will test Trump’s touted deal-making capabilities and his prized relationship with the Russian leader, which has rendered traditional U.S. partners wary.
How will the US-Russia talks impact Ukraine’s future?
Trump stated he would speak with Putin. White House officials refused to say exactly what time the call was going to be held while noting the time difference between Washington and Moscow.
“Many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains,”
Trump said in a social media post.
“Each week brings 2,500 soldier deaths, from both sides, and it must end NOW. I look very much forward to the call with President Putin.”
Ukraine, according to Trump, is more difficult to deal with than Russia has agreed to the U.S. proposed 30-day truce.
President Trump has suggested what aspects would constitute a longer-term peace procedure, including territorial concessions by Ukraine and control of a nuclear power plant which could factor into negotiations.
Zelenskiy has consistently maintained that his country’s sovereignty cannot be negotiated and that Russia must abandon the territory it has captured.
Will NATO expansion remain a sticking point for Russia?
Putin has expressed that his military invasion of Ukraine was because NATO’s advancing expansion threatened Russia’s security and has urged Ukraine to drop its NATO membership ambitions. He has also stated that Russia must maintain control over the Ukrainian territory it has seized, Western sanctions should be reduced and Kyiv must stage a presidential election.
