Trump and Putin Speak for Over Two Hours – ‘Substantial and Frank’

A telephone conversation between the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, lasted over two hours on Monday, May 19, 2025. The discussion centered on ending the war in Ukraine following talks between Russia and Ukraine in Constantinople. Before speaking with Putin, Trump conversed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with plans to update him afterward regarding the content of the call with Putin. According to Putin, the conversation was described as “substantial and frank,” with Russia advocating for a ceasefire in Ukraine if certain agreements are reached first, as reported by TASS. Additionally, White House representative Carolyn Livit stated that President Trump is open to meeting with Putin, but all options remain on the table, including secondary sanctions. Earlier, Trump mentioned in a post that the aim of the discussions would be to end the bloodshed killing more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers weekly, alongside trade issues. European leaders await Putin’s demonstration of peace intentions, expecting a 30-day ceasefire agreement in Ukraine.