Washington, March 17, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday as part of ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump indicated that significant diplomatic work had been done over the weekend in preparation for the call.
“I’ll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work’s been done over the weekend,” Trump stated, as reported by Reuters.
Diplomatic Engagements and Ceasefire Discussions
The announcement follows remarks by White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, who earlier suggested that a Trump-Putin conversation was likely this week. He also confirmed that U.S. officials continue to engage with Ukrainian representatives to advance ceasefire negotiations.
“I expect that there’ll be a call with both presidents this week. And we’re also continuing to engage and have conversations with the Ukrainians,” Witkoff said on CNN’s State of the Union.
Last week, Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow, following Ukraine’s conditional acceptance of a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal during talks in Saudi Arabia. However, the proposal was rejected by the Kremlin, with Putin maintaining that key issues remain unresolved.
Optimism from the Kremlin
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin had conveyed messages to Trump through Witkoff ahead of the scheduled call. According to the Interfax news agency, Peskov expressed “cautious optimism” about reaching a ceasefire agreement.
During his visit to Moscow, Witkoff described his conversation with Putin as “positive” and “solution-based,” emphasizing that the Russian leader “accepts the philosophy of President Trump” and that both parties are keen on ending the war.
Witkoff also stated that Trump believes “there will be some sort of deal in the coming weeks.”
US Administration Sees Ceasefire Within Reach
The Trump administration appears confident that a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire agreement could be finalized soon. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told ABC’s This Week that Putin is open to a ceasefire but has additional demands that the U.S. is currently reviewing.
“This is going to be some type of territory for future security guarantees, the future status of Ukraine. We know the components. There is a deal that will be had here,” Waltz explained.
Ukraine has been seeking security assurances from the U.S. and its allies in the event of future Russian aggression. However, Washington has been hesitant to make firm commitments. A proposed minerals agreement between the U.S. and Kyiv recently collapsed over concerns about long-term security guarantees.
Trump’s Approach Draws Criticism
Trump’s push for a ceasefire has sparked criticism in Kyiv and across Europe, with concerns that the U.S. may be pressuring Ukraine to accept terms favorable to Russia. The Biden administration previously paused arms shipments and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, which was later restored.
Adding to the controversy, Trump has made critical remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator” and suggesting that dealing with Kyiv has been more difficult than negotiating with Russia.
Despite the tensions, U.S. officials insist that direct talks with both sides are essential to securing a lasting peace after three years of war. As Trump and Putin prepare for their conversation, global attention remains on whether diplomatic efforts will yield meaningful progress toward ending the conflict.
