Trump Claims Peace Is Near: Talks to Start ‘Immediately’

In a major foreign policy announcement, President Donald Trump said Monday that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine may be within reach. Following a high-stakes phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump claimed the two leaders had a “very well” conversation and that formal negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv would begin “immediately.”

He also floated the possibility of hosting the talks at the Vatican, crediting an offer made by newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff.

📞 Back-to-Back Diplomacy

After speaking with Putin, Trump says he immediately got on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as well as key European leaders, including:

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

• French President Emmanuel Macron

• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz

• Finnish President Alexander Stubb

According to Trump, all parties were briefed on the conversation and the Vatican proposal.

Meanwhile, Russian state media reported that Putin found the call “informative and useful,” with RIA Novosti quoting him as saying: “We are generally on the right track.”

🛑 Trade Tactics as Peace Incentive

Trump hinted that part of his approach to ending the war involves economic incentives. He suggested both Russia and Ukraine stand to benefit from improved trade relations if peace is achieved.

This signals a possible U.S. strategy to link post-war reconstruction and global trade to long-term stability — particularly as Russia continues to face devastating Western sanctions.

🧊 Stalled Peace Efforts and Rising Frustration

Despite the renewed optimism, past peace efforts have repeatedly hit dead ends.

During recent talks in Istanbul, Russian negotiators demanded that Ukraine:

• Declare a neutral military status

• Renounce claims for reparations

• Accept Russian control over Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine

Kyiv rejected these conditions outright.

Vice President JD Vance, speaking from Rome earlier Monday, admitted that the administration views the conflict at a “stalemate.”

He added that Trump made it clear to Putin: “Are you serious about peace? Or not?”

🏛️ What Comes Next?

This marks the third known phone call between Trump and Putin since Trump returned to the White House in January. Their most recent call lasted nearly two hours, though no full ceasefire was reached at that time.

So far, the U.S. has not released an official readout of Monday's conversation, though Trump’s posts paint a picture of renewed diplomatic momentum.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added at a briefing that Trump remains committed to securing a ceasefire but has grown “weary and frustrated” with the lack of progress.

🌍 Global Stakes, Vatican Stage?

If talks proceed at the Vatican, it would mark a powerful symbolic shift — placing peace negotiations at the heart of global neutrality and moral authority.

But whether that stage becomes reality depends on what comes next: Will Putin finally agree to terms Ukraine can accept? Will Trump’s economic strategy win over hardened interests? Or will this be another chapter in a war defined by false starts and fragile ceasefires?

For now, Trump is positioning himself not just as a mediator — but as the man who could bring one of the world’s most devastating modern wars to a close.