Efforts to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war gained fresh traction as former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation lasting over two hours. The discussion reportedly focused on initiating talks for a ceasefire agreement.
According to Russian state media, Putin expressed Russia’s willingness to cooperate on a memorandum aimed at establishing a ceasefire. On the other side, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s openness to negotiations, suggesting neutral venues such as Turkiye, Switzerland, or the Vatican for potential peace talks. Zelenskyy also renewed his call for a “full and unconditional ceasefire.”
These diplomatic developments follow a massive escalation on the ground. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia launched its largest drone attack since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. A total of 273 drones and decoys were deployed, targeting multiple regions across Ukraine.