**Russia Refuses to Agree to Ceasefire in Ukraine, Wants Memorandum on Future Peace Treaty**
In a call with US President Donald Trump on May 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to agree to a full ceasefire in Ukraine. Instead, he proposed negotiating a “memorandum regarding a potential future peace treaty.” This move has been met with frustration from European allies and Ukrainian officials.
According to sources, the US president had pressed Putin for a ceasefire during their two-hour call, but Russia insisted that the “most effective paths towards peace” were still unknown. Putin claimed that his country’s position remains unchanged and requires “eliminating the root causes” of the war in Ukraine.
The US president said on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine will begin negotiations toward a ceasefire and an end to the war immediately, but the conditions for this will be negotiated between the two parties. Trump also claimed that Russia is interested in engaging in large-scale trade with the United States once the war ends.
**Ukraine Still Pushing for Full Ceasefire**
A source in the President’s Office told the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine is still pushing for a full, unconditional ceasefire in talks this week with the US president. This demand was first pushed by Trump and accepted by Ukraine back in March.
The call comes days after inconclusive negotiations in Istanbul, where Russia made sweeping territorial demands, including that Ukraine accept the loss of Crimea and four eastern regions. The negotiations concluded without a breakthrough, but the two parties agreed to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange this week.
**Frustration from European Allies**
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the phone call between the two presidents as “productive” and highlighted Trump’s “neutral” stance on the war. However, speaking to reporters, Peskov also said that Trump’s position is neutral, while European politicians are openly pro-Ukrainian.
The US president’s approach to negotiations frustrates European allies, many of whom sought his support for a joint U.S.–EU ultimatum demanding an unconditional ceasefire starting May 12 and tougher sanctions on Moscow. Despite Russia’s refusal, no new U.S. sanctions have been imposed so far.
**Republican Lawmakers Call for Punitive Actions**
In Washington, Republican lawmakers have echoed the call for punitive actions against Moscow. US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Fox Business that the “Russian Sanctions Act of 2025 is ready to go.” This legislation includes sweeping financial penalties and 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, or uranium.
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