Trump Says He Spoke with Putin on 3/18, U.S. Hopes for Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire in Weeks | WPN World People News

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on March 16 that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 18th in an effort to broker a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine had already accepted a U.S.-proposed ceasefire agreement on the 11th. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin on the evening of the 13th and described the discussion as problem-solving oriented. Putin has, in principle, agreed to Trump's “vision for ending the Russia-Ukraine war” but requires key conditions to be met before accepting.

Trump stated that the call will address issues related to land and power plants, mentioning discussions on the division of specific assets. U.S. officials have strongly hinted that Ukraine may need to make significant concessions, including ceding some territory and abandoning its NATO aspirations. Witkoff revealed that the gap between the two sides has narrowed and expressed hope for a ceasefire within weeks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the 15th the formation of a negotiation team led by his Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak.

Additionally, Trump has reappointed Keith Kellogg as the U.S. envoy to Ukraine, focusing on engagement with Ukrainian leadership. Reports indicate that Russia is dissatisfied with Kellogg’s pro-Ukraine stance and has excluded him from high-level negotiations. Overall, the Trump administration is actively pushing for a ceasefire and working to bridge the divide between both sides. The progress of negotiations in the coming weeks will be crucial.