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President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold a phone call on Tuesday to discuss a potential 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
Some shit you should know before you read: Roughly a week ago, the United States announced that Ukraine had agreed to a proposed 30-day ceasefire aimed at halting fighting and providing a window for diplomatic negotiations. The proposal outlines a temporary cessation of hostilities, allowing humanitarian aid to reach affected areas while setting the stage for broader peace talks. However, Russia has pushed back, insisting that for the ceasefire to be legitimate, all Western military aid to Ukraine must be halted, and Ukraine must suspend troop mobilization and training efforts. Russian officials argue that without these conditions, the ceasefire would be a mere pause that Kyiv could exploit to regroup and rearm, making it a tactical delay rather than an actual step toward peace. Ukrainian officials are against this, arguing that Russia’s demands are a strategic ploy to weaken Ukraine’s defenses, fearing that once the ceasefire ends, Russia will resume attacks against a less-prepared Ukrainian military by using the pause to solidify its own territorial gains and reposition its forces.
What’s going on now: While speaking to reporters, President Trump confirmed that he will hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, expressing optimism that a deal to end the war in Ukraine could be within reach. He stated that negotiations have already made significant progress, with discussions centering on territorial concessions and control over strategic assets like power plants.
Despite Trump’s confidence, skepticism remains high among Western leaders, who question whether Russia is genuinely interested in peace or simply using negotiations to buy time. French President Emmanuel Macron and other European officials have stressed that any agreement must include enforceable guarantees to prevent Russia from resuming hostilities.
US lawmakers have also expressed concern, with Senator Mike Rounds warning that “time will tell whether Putin is deceiving us.”
