U.S. President Donald Trump plans to call Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy separately on Monday in a bid to push for a ceasefire in Ukraine, as the war continues to claim lives and a period of mourning is declared after a deadly drone strike.
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to speak by phone with Russian leader ‘bloodbath’ was mentioned as a concern by Trump about ending the war in Ukraine.
Donald Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York.
He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics.
Trump's business career began with his father's real estate company, eventually taking over as president.
He gained fame through his reality TV show 'The Apprentice.'
In 2015, he announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination and won the election in 2016.
Trump served one term as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
The call is expected to focus on stopping the ‘bloodbath’ in Ukraine and will be followed by a conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and leaders of various NATO countries.
Located in Eastern Europe, Ukraine shares borders with Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest.
The country has a diverse geography, featuring mountains, forests, and steppes.
Ukraine's climate is temperate, with cold winters and warm summers.
The 'Black Sea' coastline in southern Ukraine provides a significant portion of the country's maritime trade.
Trump expressed hope that the day’s talks would be productive, leading to a ceasefire and an end to the violent war.
Kremlin spokesman ‘certain conditions are met’ was mentioned by Dmitry Peskov as possible further agreements between Russia and Ukraine if certain conditions are met.
Meanwhile, Ukraine declared a period of mourning after a Russian drone struck a bus evacuating civilians from front-line areas, killing nine people. The strike came hours after the Russian and Ukrainian delegations left Istanbul, where they had agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each.
Ukraine’s intelligence chief said that the exchange could happen as early as next week, but the Kremlin has pushed back against a proposal for a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement.
The U.S. Secretary of State ‘the Vatican could be a venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks’ was suggested by Marco Rubio during a visit to Rome.
The attack on the bus has been described by Ukrainian officials as ‘deliberate killing of civilians,’ and local leaders have declared a period of mourning in the town where the strike occurred.
Key Players Weigh In
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, had discussed the outcome of talks with Trump and European leaders, urging ‘tough sanctions’ against Moscow if it rejects a full and unconditional ceasefire.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician and former actor who became the President of Ukraine in 2019.
Born on January 25, 1978, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, he rose to fame with his role as 'Vasyl Petrovich Goloborodko' in the TV series 'Servant of the People.' Zelenskyy's film career spanned over two decades before entering politics.
He won the presidential election in 2019 on an anti-corruption and pro-reform platform, defeating incumbent President 'Petro Poroshenko.'
As president, he has focused on strengthening Ukraine's economy and military.
Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s spokesman held open the possibility of holding talks with Zelenskyy if certain conditions are met, including the agreed prisoner swap going ahead.
The U.S. has been pressing for a ceasefire in Ukraine, but Trump has expressed frustration with stalled talks and threatened to abandon his efforts if results aren’t achieved.
A War of Attrition
Ukraine’s position is poised to grow weaker as time goes on unless powerful sanctions are imposed against Moscow and the U.S. continues arms deliveries.
The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on civilians, including the recent attack on a bus evacuating people from Bilopillia, which killed nine people and injured seven others.
The conflict has also had significant implications for Europe, with elections in Poland and Romania potentially shaping the future of the continent and its relationship with Ukraine.
