WASHINGTON — Discussions are set to occur on Tuesday as President Donald Trump prepares to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their primary agenda is to nail down consensus on a U.S. ceasefire proposal, which Trump hopes will pave the way toward resolving the harrowing conflict in Ukraine. Though the U.S. administration shows optimism about achieving peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains wary, concerned that Putin’s apparent cooperation may be restricted to mere rhetoric while Russian forces persist in their aggressive advances across Ukraine.
This move represents another shift in the rapidly evolving dynamics between the United States and Russia. Trump has emphasized resolving the conflict swiftly, even if it means a potential strain in relations with key allies who believe Putin should be held accountable for initiating the invasion.
“It’s grim in Russia and dire in Ukraine,” Trump voiced to the media on Monday. “What’s occurring in Ukraine is distressing, but there’s a possibility for a ceasefire and a peace agreement. I’m optimistic we can achieve that.”
In anticipation of Trump and Putin’s conversation, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow last week to discuss the proposal directly with Russian leadership. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been instrumental in securing Ukrainian officials’ tentative approval of the ceasefire plan during discussions in Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. leader mentioned that discussions about “dividing up certain assets” between Ukraine and Russia have sparked talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Throughout his presidency, Trump has reiterated his desire for a swift resolution, sometimes attributing the onset of hostilities to Ukraine itself, while accusing Zelenskyy of unnecessarily prolonging this vast European war.
Topics for discussion with Putin include potential exchanges involving territories and important infrastructure. Notably, both Steve Witkoff and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted at discussions concerning the Zaporizhzhia power plant, which has been a significant point of contention since it was seized by Russian forces shortly after they incited conflict. The plant is Europe’s largest nuclear facility, supplying a significant percentage of Ukraine’s energy pre-war and has raised concerns of a nuclear incident.
Leavitt asserted confidently, “We are close to achieving peace, closer than we have ever been. The president is resolute in this pursuit.”
Nevertheless, questions arise. Bradley Bowman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies expressed skepticism about Putin’s willingness to cease operations or whether further concessions will need to be made, especially as Trump’s patience appears to wane.
After a tumultuous February meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump had temporarily halted intelligence-sharing and military support to Ukraine, which only resumed after Ukraine assented to a temporary ceasefire plan laid out by the U.S.
Critics like Bowman argue that current strategies seem to disproportionately favor Russia over Ukraine in terms of diplomatic concessions.
In his nightly message, Zelenskyy continued to voice mistrust in Russia’s intentions, highlighting that Putin seems to be prolonging hostilities deliberately.
Throughout engagements with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia, Trump’s focus often appears to center on leverage. He perceives Putin as having the upper hand over Zelenskyy—a viewpoint he frequently reiterates.
Trump has consistently conveyed a desire to normalize the rocky U.S.-Russia relationship. During a tense meeting with Zelenskyy, he referenced the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election, underscoring what he sees as Putin’s arduous past dealings.
On Monday, Trump reinforced the narrative of Ukraine’s weak negotiating position, claiming falsely that Russian forces have surrounded Ukrainian troops near Russia’s Kursk region—a statement challenged by Zelenskyy.
Though Ukraine had previously demonstrated significant resistance by reclaiming vast stretches of land, recent developments see its forces in retreat, diminishing what was once a potent leverage as momentum grows toward a ceasefire with Russia.
Zelenskyy acknowledged the precarious circumstances but disputed Russian assertions on military entrapment near Kursk.
Trump compared his intervention to preventing potential decimation of Ukrainian forces, stating, “If not for my involvement, the situation around Kursk would have escalated disastrously.”
Meanwhile, legal issues are arising for some Trump administration figures, with a lawsuit questioning First- and Fifth-Amendment violations in editorial conflicts.
