After a two-hour telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine will "immediately" launch discussions towards the goal of gaining a ceasefire and halting the current conflict.
Trump said the conversation had gone "very well" and reiterated that the details of peace would have to be negotiated by the two principals.
While Trump was also in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who seemed to offer little in the way of progress towards an immediate ceasefire or peace treaty.
Putin said he would be willing to cooperate with Ukraine on a "memorandum on a possible future peace agreement," while Zelensky called it "a defining moment," and called on Ukraine to remain actively engaged in the talks.
Significantly, the Russian president declined to respond to the US and European countries' demands for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
Following his direct telephone call with Trump, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's repetition of the call for a "full and unconditional ceasefire," stating that if Moscow declines, "there must be stronger sanctions."
Prior to Trump's conversation with Putin, Zelensky already asked that decisions regarding Ukraine not be made without Ukraine's participation, referring to such exclusion as "matters of principles" for Ukraine.
Although he admitted not knowing specifics about the suggested "memorandum," Zelensky stated that when Ukraine receives formal notification from Russia, they shall "be able to formulate their vision accordingly."
Following the call, Trump posted on his Truth Social page: "Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War," adding that he informed Zelensky of this development during a second call which included other world leaders.
He added: "The terms for that will be negotiated between the two sides, as it can only be, because they have knowledge of a negotiation that no one else would have."
Zelensky emphasized that the process of negotiations "should involve both American and European representatives at the proper level."
He explained, "It is essential for all of us that the United States does not move away from the negotiations and the search for peace, because the only one who gains from that is Putin."
At a later White House ceremony, Trump confirmed the US would still mediate talks between Russia and Ukraine but added he had a "red line in his head" for when he would finally drop the pressure on both parties.
He rejected any pullout from the US's involvement in the talks.
Trump has, in recent weeks, complained of a lack of movement from both Kyiv and Moscow, warning repeatedly that the US may step back from its mediation efforts.
Speaking of his opinion of Putin, Trump stated that he feels the Russian president "has had enough of the war and wants it to end."
At the same time, Putin, who characterized the call, from which he answered at a music school on a trip to Sochi, as "frank, informative and constructive," also spoke about the chances of a ceasefire.
"We have agreed with the US president that Russia will propose and is prepared to work with Ukraine on a memorandum on a possible future peace accord," Putin said.
He said that in this memorandum would be "set out a number of positions" such as "terms of the settlement and timeline for finishing a potential peace agreement. including a potential ceasefire of some duration, should there be any relevant agreements."
Yury Ushakov, one of Putin's aides, explained that no specific timeline for a ceasefire was on the agenda, although Trump "stresses his willingness to achieve one or another agreement as soon as possible."
Thereafter, Zelensky spoke to Trump on a call, which included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and France, Italy, Germany, and Finland leaders.
Von der Leyen thanked Trump for his "unwavering efforts to bring a ceasefire to Ukraine" and emphasized the significance of ongoing US involvement.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received the Pope's offer to host peace negotiations warmly, calling it a move "assessed positively" by the US and other leaders on the line.
Earlier this month, Pope Leo made the Vatican a possible forum for negotiations following Putin's refusal of Zelensky's invitation to meet in Turkey.
But Kyiv previously rejected Putin's expression of a desire for peace as merely propaganda.
"Putin wants war," declared Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Zelensky, after Russia launched what Ukraine described as its biggest drone attack since the complete invasion started.
Over the past few days, at least 10 people died in Russian bombardments, including nine civilians who were killed when their bus was attacked in northeastern Ukraine. Russia said it had destroyed Ukrainian drones.
The attack on the bus happened just a few hours after the first face-to-face meetings between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years. Although there was an agreement to exchange prisoners, there was no commitment to a ceasefire.
Trump proposed going to negotiations in Turkey if Putin were to accept, but Putin refused.
Russia had also previously announced temporary ceasefires, including the 8-11 May one on Victory Day, but Kyiv refused it, insisting on a committed 30-day ceasefire due to lack of trust in Putin.
Likewise, a 30-hour Easter ceasefire was proposed by the Kremlin, but the two sides blamed each other for breaking it repeatedly.
Russia-Ukraine conflict has raged on since Moscow launched a large-scale attack in February 2022.
