Updated: The phone conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin was marathon-length, lasting two hours, with the goal of achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine, according to Ria Novosti. The Russian president described the discussion as “sincere and productive.”

Following this, as scheduled, Donald Trump will speak with Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he reportedly also spoke prior to the call with Putin.

It appears that Moscow proposed the initiation of discussions to sign a memorandum with Kyiv to start the peace process. According to leaks from Russia, a ceasefire is possible under certain conditions. The recent bilateral meeting in Istanbul is seen as a step in the right direction. Russia and Ukraine need to find common ground through mutual concessions. Details of the phone conversation will be disclosed later.

According to Reuters, Putin connected from a music school in Sochi on the Black Sea, while Trump was in Washington. Foreign agencies report that the two leaders communicated via encrypted lines with interpreters present, as Putin speaks some English but uses only Russian for negotiations.

Goals of the Two Sides

Earlier, through the White House, Donald Trump expressed that he is tired and disappointed but emphasized that his goal as U.S. president is to end the war. Vice President Mike Pence also supported the idea that if Moscow and Kyiv fail to reach an agreement, the U.S. should state, “this war is not ours.”

However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia is ready to work towards a solution but warned that the process is painful and potentially long-term, lowering expectations.

According to Sky News analyst Michael Clarke, Putin is seeking a quick summit in an effort to escape the “pariah status.” However, the faster such a summit occurs, the greater the pressure on him to agree to a ceasefire. Clarke suggests he will try to manage the details and timing of the meeting in a way that gives him the maximum room to continue hostilities.

The American president is currently in telephone talks with Vladimir Putin aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine. He has announced that he will subsequently communicate with Zelensky – the White House states that the goal is to establish a ceasefire

Earlier, Donald Trump, through the White House, emphasized that the objective is to end the war. Vice President Mike Pence had also stated that if Moscow and Kyiv do not reach an agreement, the US should declare, “This war is not ours.”