Trump to carry new peace talks with Putin and Zelensky as president vows to 'cease the massacre'

[ad_1] Donald Trump has introduced he'll maintain a high-stakes name with Vladimir Putin on Monday to debate ending the 'massacre' in Ukraine – because the brutal conflict continues to say 1000's of lives each week.

In a dramatic all-caps submit on his Reality Social platform, the previous U.S. president revealed the decision would middle on 'stopping the 'massacre' that's killing, on common, greater than 5,000 Russians and Ukrainian troopers every week, and commerce.'

Trump, 78, added he would observe the Putin name with conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and 'varied leaders of NATO .'

'Hopefully it is going to be a productive day, a ceasefire will happen, and this very violent conflict, a conflict that ought to by no means have occurred, will finish,' he wrote.

The shock announcement comes simply after Russian and Ukrainian officers met for his or her first in-person talks in three years.

The assembly, which lasted underneath two hours, did not yield a ceasefire – however did end in either side agreeing to alternate 1,000 prisoners of conflict.

Sources say Moscow's negotiators demanded Ukraine withdraw troops from all territories Russia claims as its personal – including areas still fiercely contested on the battlefield .

Trump says he'll name Putin on MONDAY to cease the Ukraine 'massacre' as over 5,000 troopers die weekly – and guarantees to talk to Zelensky and NATO leaders subsequent

Trump, 78, mentioned he would observe the Putin name with conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and 'varied leaders of NATO'

<img id="i-bac9ecd35762b9a2" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/05/17/17/98483113-14722729-In_a_dramatic_all_caps_post_on_his_Truth_Social_platform_the_for-a-18_1747500766365.jpg" height="430" width="634" alt="In a dramatic all-caps post on his Truth Social platform, the former U.S. president revealed the call would center on 'stopping the 'bloodbath' that is killing, on average, more than 5,000 Russians and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade.'" class="blkBorder img-share" style="max-width:100%" loading="lazy" /> In a dramatic all-caps submit on his Reality Social platform, the previous U.S. president revealed the decision would middle on 'stopping the 'massacre' that's killing, on common, greater than 5,000 Russians and Ukrainian troopers every week, and commerce.'

A senior Ukrainian official advised Reuters the Kremlin's listing of calls for went far past the phrases of a current U.S.-drafted peace proposal, which Washington floated after backchannel discussions with Moscow.

Amongst Russia's circumstances: a whole withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia; worldwide recognition of these territories, together with Crimea, as Russian; a pledge of Ukrainian neutrality; and an settlement that no overseas troops or weapons of mass destruction be stationed on Ukrainian soil .

Moscow additionally desires all events to desert any claims to conflict reparations — a pointy distinction with the U.S. proposal, which known as for compensation to be paid to Ukraine.

The peace summit in Istanbul was overshadowed by Vladimir Putin's absence. As an alternative of attending personally, the Russian chief despatched a delegation led by his former tradition minister.

The shock announcement comes simply after Russian and Ukrainian officers met for his or her first in-person talks in three years

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later confirmed Putin would solely meet with Zelensky if certain preconditions were met — namely a ceasefire framework and the successful completion of the POW exchange .

'Such a gathering, on account of the work of the delegations of the 2 sides, upon reaching sure agreements between these delegations, is feasible. [We] think about it potential,' Peskov advised reporters on Saturday.

In the meantime, Trump doubled down on his confidence that he may deliver an finish to the conflict, pointing to his private relationship with Putin.

'I have a very good relationship with Putin. I feel we'll make a deal,' Trump mentioned throughout an interview with Fox Information in Abu Dhabi. 'We've to get collectively, and I feel we'll most likely schedule it up.'

He added: 'I am uninterested in having different individuals go and meet and every thing else. No one makes use of leverage higher than me.'

When requested whether or not he would strain Putin into making a deal, Trump responded: 'I'll, if we're not going to make a deal . We'll see what occurs — that will probably be crushing for Russia.'

<img id="i-31fcc5cbed35a3f" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/05/17/17/98483567-14722729-image-a-5_1747498990067.jpg" height="423" width="634" alt="Zelensky will hold the call with Trump the day after attending Pope Leo's inaugural mass at the Vatican on Sunday - a return to the scene where he sat with Trump before former Pope Francis' funeral on April 26 (pictured)" class="blkBorder img-share" style="max-width:100%" loading="lazy" /> Zelensky will maintain the decision with Trump the day after attending Pope Leo's inaugural mass on the Vatican on Sunday - a return to the scene the place he sat with Trump earlier than former Pope Francis' funeral on April 26 (pictured)

Zelensky's name with Putin is expected to take place the day after he attends Pope Leo's inaugural Mass on the Vatican on Could 18, the Holy See confirmed.

The ceremony, which will probably be held in St Peter's Sq. in Rome, marks the formal starting of Pope Leo's papacy because the non secular chief of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Trump has now mentioned if he's making the journey, however Zelensky will probably be joined on the Mass by a U.S. delegation that features Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance — the latter of whom beforehand clashed with Zelensky throughout a fiery Oval Workplace confrontation in February.

Regardless of the renewed push for diplomacy, violence has continued unabated throughout Ukraine.

Simply hours after the Istanbul talks ended, Zelensky accused Russia of the 'deliberate killing of civilians' following a lethal drone strike that destroyed a minibus in Sumy, killing nine and wounding four .

Russian forces additionally claimed to have captured the village of Oleksandropil within the embattled Donetsk area on Saturday, whereas shelling in Kherson left two civilians useless and 13 injured — including those aboard a truck delivering humanitarian aid .

In Kharkiv, two extra individuals have been killed and at the least 12 wounded following in a single day airstrikes close to the Russian border.

In the meantime, Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio by cellphone Saturday, praising Washington's 'constructive position' in reigniting dialogue and agreeing to maintain the strains of communication open.