1. Trump Announces Direct Ceasefire Talks with Putin and Zelenskyy
United States President Donald Trump has announced that he will personally contact Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, followed by discussions with NATO allies. The initiative is part of a renewed push to end the Ukraine war, which Trump described as a “very violent war that should have never happened.”
Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump expressed hope that his efforts would yield a ceasefire and bring the prolonged conflict to a halt. “Hopefully it will be a productive day,” he wrote, emphasizing the urgency of diplomacy following stalled negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
2. Peace Talks Stall, Prisoner Swap Agreed
Trump’s statement comes just one day after the first face-to-face talks in three years between Russian and Ukrainian delegations ended without a ceasefire. Notably, President Putin declined to attend the talks, sending a lower-ranking delegation instead—a move that led Zelenskyy to question Moscow’s seriousness in pursuing peace.
Despite the setback, both sides agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange, with each pledging to release 1,000 prisoners. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov suggested that the next logical step would be a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. The Kremlin responded cautiously, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating such a meeting would only occur once significant progress is made in negotiations.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, indicated that the prisoner swap could take place as early as next week.
3. Civilian Casualties Mount After Drone Strike in Sumy
Meanwhile, the humanitarian cost of the war continues to climb. On Saturday, a Russian drone attack in Ukraine’s Sumy region struck a civilian bus, killing nine passengers and injuring seven others. Ukrainian authorities labeled the attack a “barbaric war crime,” stating that all those killed were civilians, including a family of three.
President Zelenskyy condemned the strike, asserting that the Russians “could not have failed to understand” they were targeting a civilian vehicle. He called for tougher sanctions against Moscow and more decisive support from Ukraine’s allies.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed the call, stating: “There should be no illusions. Pressure on Moscow must be increased to put an end to Russian terror.” He criticized Russia for sending an underprepared delegation to peace talks and reiterated that real diplomatic efforts must follow such atrocities.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed the drone strike targeted Ukrainian military assets, but continues to deny intentionally attacking civilians since the war began in February 2022.
With both the military and diplomatic fronts in flux, the coming days may prove pivotal. Trump’s planned outreach and the pending prisoner exchange could open new avenues for resolution—or deepen the divisions if no progress is made.
