US President Donald Trump has once again stirred controversy with his statement on the Russia-Ukraine war. He has now stated that the first step towards a ceasefire should be a direct, face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
World News: US President Donald Trump has signaled a shift in his stance on a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire. In an initial statement, he said he planned to mediate direct talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the war quickly. But now he says that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should first have a direct, face-to-face conversation with each other.
Putin Was Talked to on the Phone
According to sources, during a meeting at the White House on August 19, 2025, Trump spoke with Putin on the phone while discussing the matter with Zelenskyy and European leaders. In this conversation, Trump suggested that Putin and Zelenskyy should meet directly, which he described as "an excellent first step towards ending the war."
Until that time, Trump had insisted that the United States would play an active mediating role. But now his recent statement indicates that he wants to place the responsibility directly on both leaders. Speaking recently to host Mark Levin on WABC Radio, Trump said, "I just want to see what happens in the meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. If they sit down face to face and talk, the real picture will emerge."
Trump's statement makes it clear that he currently wants direct talks between the two leaders before initiating a ceasefire. Analysts believe this is a major U-turn in his diplomatic stance.
Signs of Increasing Pressure on Ukraine
According to political experts, Trump's new strategy could increase pressure on Ukraine. This is because Trump has repeatedly indicated that Ukraine may have to give up hope of regaining lost territories and joining NATO. If Putin and Zelenskyy meet directly, Ukraine may have to compromise on Russia's terms. Experts believe that Trump's stance may indirectly benefit Russia, as direct pressure from the United States now appears to be diminishing.
Trump's new statement has alerted European and NATO allies. Many European leaders believe that more pressure needs to be put on Russia before bringing Ukraine to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, the US President's changing strategy sends the message that Washington is now backing away from playing a "direct decisive role" in this war.
The Ukrainian government has not yet issued an official response to this statement. But sources close to Kyiv say that the Ukrainian leadership will only be ready to talk to Russia if it receives solid support from the international community, especially the United States and NATO.
