U.S. President Donald Trump plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, to discuss proposals for ending the war in Ukraine. His announcement came during his flight back to Washington from Palm Beach, Florida, where he indicated progress had been made over the past weekend.
"We want to see if we can bring this war to an end," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "Maybe we can, maybe we can't, but I think we have a very good chance." He emphasized the seriousness of the talks, which will include discussions about land and power plants, as well as the division of certain assets.
Trump’s remarks followed positive developments between U.S. and Russian officials, including discussions held by his special envoy Steve Witkoff, who met with Putin on March 13. Witkoff described the meeting as lasting "somewhere between three and four hours" and expressed optimism about the upcoming discussion between the two leaders. “The meeting was positive," he stated. "There are lots of things to discuss and I think the two presidents are going to have a really good and positive discussion this week.”
The backdrop to these discussions involves Ukraine's acceptance of a U.S.-proposed 30-day interim ceasefire, which Trump aims to solidify. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated acceptance of this proposal, viewing it as a genuine opportunity to halt hostilities, yet he maintains strong convictions about Ukraine's sovereignty being non-negotiable.
On the Russian side, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko is asserting Moscow's demands for "ironclad security guarantees" before agreeing to any ceasefire. Grushko stated these guarantees must include Ukraine's neutrality and the assurance it will not join NATO. "Only by establishing such guarantees can lasting peace be achieved," he conveyed to the Russian media outlet Izvestia.
Despite Ukraine’s willingness to support the truce, there remains skepticism about Russia's genuine intentions. The Kremlin's response, conveyed through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, confirmed the scheduled discussion between Trump and Putin but did not acknowledge Trump's remarks about specific assets like land and power plants.
Meanwhile, military actions continue unabated; Ukraine has recently confirmed the withdrawal of its forces from the city of Sudzha, located within the contested Kursk region, where Russia continues to gain ground. This territory has significant value for future negotiations and adds complexity to the ceasefire discussions.
The two nations have been locked in conflict since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale military invasion commenced in February 2022. Ukraine’s military operations have fluctuated, and as of recent reports, Russian forces successfully repelled Ukrainian advances back within the region, capturing substantial territories.
On the international stage, Western leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have prepared to support Ukraine should there be progress toward establishing peacekeeping forces. Both the UK and France have indicated readiness to send peacekeepers should the ceasefire agreement be solidified, aiming to help monitor any cessation of hostilities.
Reflecting on past discussions, Trump characterized the current efforts as the most progressive since the start of the war, expressing cautious optimism for tangible results. "We’ve had some talks, and it seems like we’re getting somewhere," he noted concerning the negotiations.
While many hope for resolution, the road remains treacherous. Trump's approach marks a notable shift, as he has at times been criticized for fostering closer ties with Russia, which historically have provoked apprehension among other global powers.
The next steps are laden with uncertainty; as both sides weigh their demands against each other's positions. The U.S. Administration appears committed to forcing the narrative of possible peace talks, underlining its intent to solidify cooperation with European allies to navigate the intricacies involved.
With major stakes at play, the discussions on Tuesday could potentially reshape the trajectories of both U.N. diplomacy and military engagements on the ground. Observation and reactions from global leaders will be pivotal as the outcomes of these talks begin to materialize.
Time will tell how much the two leaders can achieve during this pivotal conversation. While Trump remains optimistic about finding common ground, the history of the conflict serves as a constant reminder of the difficulty of reaching lasting peace.