President Trump has indicated that a potential ceasefire in Ukraine could be on the horizon following discussions with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The conversation, which took place on Wednesday, revolved around the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as well as tensions with Iran.
The President described his dialogue with Putin as “very good,” suggesting that a ceasefire might be established by next month, coinciding with Victory Day, the anniversary marking the end of World War II.
“I believe we could reach a solution relatively soon,” Trump remarked to reporters gathered in the Oval Office.
He further elaborated, “I proposed a bit of a ceasefire with Ukraine, and there is a possibility that he might agree to it. There might be an announcement related to that.”
Trump expressed hope that a ceasefire would lead to a lasting resolution to the conflict, which has persisted for over four years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The President, who last publicly spoke with Putin on March 9, also noted that resolutions to the conflicts in both Ukraine and Iran could potentially follow a “similar timetable.”
The Trump administration has been working for more than a year to help end the war in Ukraine, which has become the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II.
The mediation efforts have remained stalled after the war in Iran broke out. A temporary cease-fire in the Middle East has paved the way for negotiations to restart in Ukraine.
It remains to be seen how serious Putin will be about a cease-fire with Ukraine.
He previously announced a short truce of three days last year following similar talks with the Trump administration — a cease-fire that was notably not agreed with Kyiv.
Along with discussing a possible end to the war, Putin also proposed that Russia could help seize 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium believed to be buried in Iran’s atomic facilities.
The president, however, said he flatly denied the invitation.
“He told me he’d like to be involved with the enrichment, if he can help us get it,” Trump told reporters.
“I said, ‘I’d much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine.’”
