Trump Holds Second Phone Conversation With Putin In 24 Hours After Meeting Zelenskyy To Discuss Ukraine Peace Talks

Washington: US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, the second telephonic conversation in 24 hours, discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine. The phone call took place just a day after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida to discuss a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. 

The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy was seen as a crucial step towards ending the conflict, with both leaders expressing optimism about the prospects of a deal.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the latest development, describing Trump's conversation with Putin as positive. As per reports, the call touched on recent security developments, including an alleged attack on Putin's residence, which Ukraine has denied. Trump reportedly expressed relief that Ukraine hadn't been given Tomahawk missiles.

The phone call on Monday was the second phone conversation between Trump and Putin in 24 hours, explaining the intense diplomatic efforts to end the war. Trump has promised to deliver a peace deal, saying that diplomatic efforts are in the final stages.

Meanwhile, Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy on Sunday was seen as a crucial step towards peace. The two leaders discussed a 20-point peace plan, with Zelenskyy saying that 90% of the terms have been agreed upon. The main sticking points remain the fate of the Donbas region and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump has been working to broker a deal between Ukraine and Russia, with his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner leading the negotiations. The US president has expressed optimism about the prospects of a deal, saying that Moscow is serious about peace.

Key Issues Remain Unresolved

Despite the progress made, several key issues remain unresolved. The fate of the Donbas region, which Russia has demanded Ukraine surrender, is still a major point of contention. Ukraine has expressed willingness to consider territorial concessions, but only if it receives robust security guarantees from the US and European allies.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian control, is another major issue. The US has proposed shared control over the plant, but Russia has rejected any talks on the matter.

Amidst efforts for a peace deal, the European leaders have expressed support for Ukraine's position. French President Emmanuel Macron said that progress has been made on security guarantees, and countries in the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ will meet in Paris in early January to finalize their contributions.

The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also expressed support for Ukraine, saying that European leaders "underlined the importance of robust security guarantees and reaffirmed the urgency of ending this barbaric war as soon as possible".

Earlier on Sunday, Trump stated that Russia and Ukraine are “closer than ever” to finalising a peace deal, however, he suggested that there are a few key issues ramained unresolved.