**US President Trump Claims Progress in Ending Russia-Ukraine War**
In a press briefing at the White House on May 21, US President Donald Trump said that he has made “a lot of progress” towards ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. This statement comes after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19, which was their first known conversation in two months.
During the press conference, Trump described the war as “a horrible thing” and “a bloodbath”. He also mentioned that he had seen satellite pictures of the conflict zone, saying that it was something “you never saw anything like that in your life”.
The phone call between Trump and Putin came just days after a series of inconclusive peace talks in Istanbul. Russia’s delegation was met with skepticism by Ukrainian officials, who accused them of making sweeping territorial demands, including the loss of Crimea and four other regions.
Despite Trump’s optimism about progress being made, Putin has since reiterated Russia’s maximalist demands, denying any full ceasefire agreement. This stance has been consistent with the Kremlin’s position throughout the conflict.
Trump’s approach to the crisis has been criticized by European allies, who have called for a joint US-EU ultimatum for an unconditional ceasefire starting May 12 and tougher sanctions on Moscow. However, no additional US sanctions have been imposed despite Russia’s refusal.
The US president has often boasted about his supposedly warm ties with Putin, although the two leaders have not met since Trump returned to office in January. Their previous phone call was on March 18, during which Putin rejected a 30-day ceasefire offer but declared a pause on strikes against energy facilities, which Ukraine said was repeatedly violated.
In recent weeks, Trump has adopted a more critical rhetoric towards the Kremlin amid Moscow’s delays in peace negotiations and continued attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine. However, this tone has been met with skepticism by some who have accused him of being inconsistent in his approach to the crisis.
**The Way Forward**
As the conflict continues to escalate, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s efforts will yield any tangible results. Despite the US president’s claims of progress, Putin’s refusal to compromise on key issues suggests that a settlement is still far off.
In the meantime, European allies are likely to continue pushing for tougher sanctions and a stronger international response to Russia’s actions. As the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s approach will ultimately lead to a resolution or further exacerbate the crisis.
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