Trump says Russia, Ukraine to start ceasefire negotiations after Putin call

close Video

Jack Keane issues warning on Russia-Ukraine war: Putin ‘doesn’t care’ about the carnage

Fox News senior strategic analyst Gen. Jack Keane (Ret.) joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to weigh in on the continued conflict between Russia and Ukraine ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned calls with Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy.

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a two-hour call on Monday in what the U.S. said was a push to get Russia to end its deadly war in Ukraine. 

Both Trump and Putin described the call in a positive light, with the Kremlin chief saying it was “frank” and “useful,” but it is not immediately clear what results were achieved. 

Trump took to social media to praise the call as having gone “very well” and said, “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.”

RUSSIA BOMBARDS UKRAINE WITH DRONES HOURS AFTER TRUMP ANNOUNCES TALKS WITH PUTIN

In this June 28, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20.  (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

“The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of,” he added. 

Putin, in a statement after the call, also noted that “a ceasefire with Ukraine is possible” but noted “Russia and Ukraine must find compromises that suit both sides.”

Any concrete details on the nature of these compromises remain unclear, despite negotiation attempts in Turkey on Friday, which Trump suggested failed because he needed to negotiate with Putin first.

The ceasefire talks fell through after a Ukrainian delegation said it was presented with demands from the Russian delegation that were “unacceptable,” including reported calls for the complete removal of Ukrainian troops from four Ukrainian regions that Russian illegally annexed in 2022, including Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov talks to journalists, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP)

ZELENSKYY SPEAKS WITH TRUMP, ALLIES AFTER RUSSIA PEACE TALKS BROKER NO CEASEFIRE

The Russian delegation also allegedly demanded that the international community not only recognize the regions as now Russian, but cease aid to Ukraine, including plans to supply peace-keeping troops once the fighting concludes.

Trump said he immediately alerted not only Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the call, but also EU leader, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finnish President Alexander Stubb – none of whom immediately responded to Fox News Digitals requests for comment, nor have they pubically made statements about the call. 

Trump also said that, “the Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations.” 

TIRANA, ALBANIA – MAY 16: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policy.) In this handout image provided by the German Government Press Office (BPA), (LtoR) Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, hold a telephone conversation with US President Trump on the sidelines of a meeting at the 6th European Political Community summit on May 16, 2025 at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania.  (Photo by KuglerSteffen/Bundesregierung via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Let the process begin,” he added, though negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the U.S., began months ago in March. 

The Vatican also did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions, though on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV took to X and said, “The Holy See is willing to help enemies meet, so they may look each other in the eye and so people may be given back the dignity they deserve: the dignity of peace. 

“With heart in hand, I say to the leaders of nations: let us meet; let us dialogue; let us negotiate!” he added.

Caitlin McFall is a Reporter at Fox News Digital covering Politics, U.S. and World news.