From left: Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Sputnik/Alexei Danichev/Pool via Reuters | Leah Millis | Alina Smutko)
Trump announced over the weekend that he would personally hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to help broker a deal to end the bloodshed and secure long-term peace.
"I WILL BE SPEAKING, BY TELEPHONE, TO PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF RUSSIA ON MONDAY, AT 10:00 A.M. THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE ‘BLOODBATH’ THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK, AND TRADE," Trump posted to Truth Social on Saturday.
Trump added that he will then hold talks with Zelenskyy, followed by another call with Zelenskyy and NATO leaders, queuing up a busy Monday schedule.
ZELENSKYY SHEDS DETAILS ON MEETING WITH VANCE, RUBIO IN ROME AFTER RUSSIA PEACE TALKS STALL
Russian and Ukrainian officials held their first direct peace talks in years last week in Istanbul. The two sides, however, failed to agree to a ceasefire in a war that has raged since February 2022. Russia and Ukraine did agree to a large prisoner swap during the meeting.
President Donald Trump is anticipated to call Ukrainian President Zelenskyy following a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. (Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP/Getty Images)
"During our talks we discussed negotiations in Istanbul to where the Russians sent a low level delegation of non-decision-makers. I reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy and underscored the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible," Zelenskyy posted.
"We have also touched upon the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, battlefield situation and upcoming prisoners exchange. Pressure is needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war. And, of course, we talked about our joint steps to achieve a just and durable peace."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to local media that Monday's "conversation is in the works," the BBC reported on Saturday.
"HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A PRODUCTIVE DAY, A CEASEFIRE WILL TAKE PLACE, AND THIS VERY VIOLENT WAR, A WAR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, WILL END. GOD BLESS US ALL!!!" Trump added of the highly-anticipated rounds of phone calls on Monday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Congressional Republicans are in the midst of pushing to pass Trump's "big, beautiful bill," which has been touted as significant fiscal reform that would fund the president's agenda.
REPUBLICANS READY LATE-NIGHT SESSION ON TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' AFTER GOP MUTINY
Republicans are working to pass it through the budget reconciliation process, and have set a Memorial Day deadline for its passage. With just one working week left before the summer holiday weekend, House Budget Committee members were summoned to Congress on Sunday night to begin their work to pass the bill.
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The bill was thrown into turmoil last week when four members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, alongside Democrats, voted against advancing the legislation. The four conservatives took issue with the legislation’s crackdown on Medicaid, and also worked to repeal Biden-era green-energy tax subsidies.
Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-sets-sights-potential-ukraine-russia-peace-deal-he-kicks-off-18th-week-back-oval