Trump: To speak with Putin on Monday at 10 a.m.

Trump: To speak with Putin on Monday at 10 a.m.

US President Donald Trump announced his intention to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, May 19, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. The primary focus of the conversations will be to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, particularly the escalating casualty figures. Trump stated that he will also discuss trade with Putin [1].

The call comes on the heels of Russia and Ukraine's first direct peace talks in over three years, which were held in Istanbul on Friday, May 17. Despite these talks, no ceasefire was agreed upon, and a Russian drone strike on a minibus carrying evacuated civilians in the Sumy region resulted in nine deaths and five injuries [2].

Trump's initiative follows his suggestion that face-to-face talks with Putin were necessary to broker an end to the conflict. He has expressed hope that the conversations will lead to a ceasefire and an end to the war [3].

The ongoing conflict has had significant economic implications for both Russia and Ukraine, as well as for global markets. The escalating violence has led to increased uncertainty and volatility in financial markets. Trump's intervention aims to stabilize the situation and potentially ease market concerns [4].

Trump's plan to speak with both Putin and Zelensky underscores his commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The US President has been actively involved in attempting to broker peace between the two countries, highlighting the significant human cost of the war [1].

References:
[1] https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/donald-trump-to-speak-to-putin-zelensky-to-stop-bloodbath-killing-5000-russian-and-ukrainian-soldiers-a-week-11747494497908.html
[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70nwr7zg7lo
[3] https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3310744/trump-hints-meeting-putin-make-deal-ukraine-war
[4] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/17/trump-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-peace/83694011007/