Image Credentials: Image Title: Trump Steps Back on Ceasefire Demand, Urges Direct Russia-Ukraine Talks Amid Mounting Pressure and Drone Strikes Source: (Grok, xAI) Date: May 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (Grok, xAI), it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer with Agencies
WASHINGTON — May 20, 2025 – President Donald Trump has shifted his stance on the war in Ukraine, stepping back from his earlier demand for an immediate Russian ceasefire and instead throwing his support behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
The change comes after a two-hour phone call between Trump and Putin on Monday, the third since Trump’s return to office, in which the leaders addressed each other by first name throughout the discussion, according to Kremlin officials. Trump told reporters afterward that he expects “progress in the talks,” but warned that if there wasn’t, he would be “just going to back away.”
This move marks a significant departure from Trump’s recent approach, which included publicly blaming and threatening Putin for dragging out the war. In late April, Trump issued a rare and direct rebuke to the Russian leader on social media following a drone attack on Ukraine: “Vladimir, STOP!” However, he has not publicly commented on the latest Russian drone bombardment that killed a Ukrainian woman and injured several others just one day before his call with Putin.
On Monday, Trump said he had pressed Putin directly during their conversation, asking, “When are we going to end this, Vladimir?” and also requested a face-to-face meeting. While Trump portrayed the call as a breakthrough, Putin made clear that Russia is not close to declaring a ceasefire. He reaffirmed that any peace deal must address what he called the “root causes of this crisis,” reiterating Russia’s demand for strategic influence over Ukraine and withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from contested territories.
Putin confirmed Russia’s willingness to work on a memorandum of understanding for a potential peace agreement, but maintained his hardline stance. “We just need to identify the most effective ways of moving toward peace,” he said.
Direct talks between Russia and Ukraine resumed last Friday in Istanbul, the first in over three years, resulting in a large-scale prisoner exchange agreement, but no substantial progress toward a ceasefire. Russia continued to push demands that Ukraine vacate large areas still under its control.
Back to square one. Trump abandons his own ceasefire demands without a whimper. US peace proposal presented in Paris cast aside. No hint whatsoever of pressure on Russia to soften draconian demands. Dangles a giant carrot (trade, implicitly end to sanctions) but offers no stick. pic.twitter.com/L8C3HCLKZe
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) May 19, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who held two separate calls with Trump on Monday, voiced strong reservations about Trump’s new approach. “The negotiation process must involve both American and European representatives at the appropriate level,” Zelenskyy said, warning that Ukraine will not yield to any ultimatums. “My message to President Trump was clear: do not make decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy added, “This is a defining moment. The world can now see whether its leaders are truly capable of securing a ceasefire and achieving real, lasting peace.”
Trump’s statement following the calls emphasized economic incentives over diplomatic milestones. He noted that both Ukraine and Russia stand to benefit from trade and rebuilding opportunities once peace is achieved. “Ukraine can be a great beneficiary of trade, in the process of rebuilding its country,” he said.
The Kremlin also reported that the two leaders discussed improving bilateral U.S.–Russia ties, a long-standing goal for Putin as he seeks relief from economic sanctions. Among the topics was a proposed nine-for-nine prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia — details that Trump did not mention publicly, though he has overseen two previous one-for-one exchanges since taking office.
Zelenskyy participated in a separate call between Trump and European leaders, where he reiterated Ukraine’s need for firm support. While a strong European aid package is expected, he said the status of U.S. support remains uncertain. “We need to know who we can count on, and who we can’t. As for the package from the United States — that’s a different story,” Zelenskyy said.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov sought to temper expectations, telling the state-run Tass agency that ending the war would require “rather painstaking and, perhaps, prolonged work.”
As Trump attempts to position himself as a broker for peace, while also appearing receptive to Putin’s demands, the world watches closely to see whether this approach yields meaningful progress or further entrenches a brutal, years-long conflict.