**US President Donald Trump to Talk with Putin on Ukraine Conflict**
US President Donald Trump has announced that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Monday about ending the war in Ukraine. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, saying that the call would take place at 10:00 EDT and that he would then talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders of some NATO countries.
This move comes after a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul on Friday ended without any breakthrough. Trump had offered to attend the talks if Putin would also be there, but the Russian president declined. In his comments, Trump suggested that progress on ending the war could only happen if he and Putin held face-to-face talks.
**Russia’s Demands for Ukraine**
Putin has reiterated his demand that any peace deal with Ukraine should “eliminate the causes that triggered this crisis” and “guarantee Russia’s security”. This stance is likely to be a challenge for Ukrainian officials, who are seeking a full and unconditional ceasefire. The Kremlin has made new demands on Kyiv, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from large parts of its own territory in exchange for a ceasefire.
**Ceasefire Talks**
European leaders have been calling for Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire in the conflict. Trump’s call with Putin is expected to discuss a ceasefire, as well as the possibility of a summit between themselves. The US and Russian leaders are also set to talk about mediation efforts after a recent call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
**Recent Developments**
In recent days, there have been reports of continued violence in Ukraine. A Russian drone hit a passenger bus in the Sumy region on Saturday, killing nine people. Ukrainian officials have condemned this attack as “a deliberate killing of civilians”, while Russia has not commented. The Ukrainian air force reported that it had destroyed 88 of 273 Shahed attack drones and other types of drones launched by Russia.
**Analysis**
The move by Trump to speak with Putin on the Ukraine conflict is a significant development in international diplomacy. It remains to be seen whether this call will lead to any breakthrough or progress in ending the war. The fact that Russia has made new demands on Ukraine, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from large parts of its own territory, suggests that there are still major hurdles to overcome.
It is also worth noting that European leaders have been calling for a 30-day ceasefire, and it is unclear whether Putin will agree to this or other demands. The situation in Ukraine remains volatile, with continued reports of violence and civilian casualties.
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