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The United States agreed to "tightly co-ordinate" Ukraine talks with European partners following a call between President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the German government said Monday.
Immediately after his conversation with Putin, Trump held a second call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.
The readout of the call provided by Merz's spokesman said that the leaders "spoke to each other about the next steps" and "emphasised their willingness to closely accompany Ukraine on the path to a ceasefire".
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Following his call with Trump, Putin said Moscow was ready to "work" with Kyiv on a "memorandum" as a prelude to a possible peace deal.
Putin thanked Trump for supporting the resumption of direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv, and said that Trump noted Russia's support for peace, though the key question was how to move towards peace.
"We have agreed with the president of the United States that Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a possible future peace accord, defining a number of positions, such as, for example, the principles of settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement," Putin told reporters near the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
“At the same time, I would like to note that, in general, Russia’s position is clear. The main thing for us is to eliminate the root causes of this crisis,” the Russian president said.
In his first public statement on Monday's call, Trump said Russia and Ukraine would begin negotiations towards a ceasefire "immediately".
"Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the call, adding that the "tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent".
Zelensky says he has no details on Russia's peace roadmap memorandum
Zelensky on Monday said Kyiv and its partners were considering arranging a high-level meeting between Ukraine, Russia, the US and European countries.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv after holding two phone calls with Trump, the Ukrainian leader said he hoped the meeting could happen as soon as possible.
Zelensky said he spoke to Trump one-on-one on Monday before the US president spoke to Putin, and again afterwards in a conversation that involved the leaders of France, Finland, Germany, Italy and the EU.
The Ukrainian president said he had no details about a "memorandum" on a peace roadmap that Putin earlier said he discussed with Donald Trump, but was willing to look at Moscow's proposals.
"Once we have received the memorandum or proposals from the Russians, we will be able to formulate our vision accordingly, as we see it," he said.
Pope offers to host talks
The Vatican – where Pope Leo XIV was recently elected as the first American pontiff – would be "very interested" in hosting the Russia-Ukraine talks, Trump added.
European leaders welcomed Pope Leo XIV's readiness to host the talks, said Italy's Meloni.
"Work is under way to immediately start negotiations between the parties that can lead to a ceasefire as soon as possible and build the conditions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," Meloni's office said in a statement.
"In this regard, the Holy Father's willingness to host the talks at the Vatican was considered positive. Italy is ready to do its part to facilitate contacts and work for peace," the statement added.
Trump has struggled to end a war that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, and that makes these conversations a serious test of his reputation as a deal maker after having claimed he would quickly settle the conflict once he was back in the White House, if not even before he took office.
“He’s grown weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday ahead of the call. “He has made it clear to both sides that he wants to see a peaceful resolution and ceasefire as soon as possible.”
The Republican president is banking on the idea that his force of personality and personal history with Putin will be enough to break any impasse over a pause in the fighting.
Putin recently rejected an offer by Zelensky to meet in-person in Turkey as an alternative to a 30-day ceasefire urged by Ukraine and its Western allies, including Washington.
Those talks ended Friday after less than two hours, without a ceasefire in place. Still, both countries committed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, with Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, saying on Ukrainian television Saturday that the exchanges could happen as early as this week.
While wrapping up his four-day trip to the Middle East last week, Trump said Putin had not gone to Turkey because the US president himself wasn't there.
“He and I will meet, and I think we’ll solve it or maybe not,” Trump told reporters after boarding Air Force One. “At least we’ll know. And if we don’t solve it, it’ll be very interesting.”
Zelensky met with Trump's vice president, JD Vance, and top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Rome on Sunday, as well as European leaders, intensifying his efforts before the Monday calls.
The Ukrainian president said on the social media site X that during his talks with the American officials, they discussed the negotiations in Turkey and that “the Russians sent a low level delegation of non-decision-makers.” He also said he stressed that Ukraine is engaged in ”real diplomacy” to have a ceasefire.
“We have also touched upon the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defence co-operation, battlefield situation and upcoming prisoners exchange,” Zelensky said. “Pressure is needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war.”
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and Reuters)