Waffenruhe for Ukraine?
Trump and Putin’s phone call started
Updated on May 19, 2025 – 5:50 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Optimists hope for a breakthrough in the peace efforts for Ukraine: the head of state of the United States and Russia speaks together at the hour.
According to the White House, the long-awaited phone call between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin started around 4:45 p.m. (CEST). The two heads of state talk about a possible ceasefire for Ukraine. A 30-day fire break is a prerequisite for further peace talks.
Trump’s goal for the phone call is to end this “conflict”, said Karoline Leavitt’s spokeswoman for the White House. The US President is “frustrated” through both parties to the conflict. The Kremlin also confirmed Russian media around 5:30 p.m. (CEST) that the conversation was underway. Accordingly, Putin stayed in his official seat in Sochi on the Black Sea.
So far, the US government under President Donald Trump has rejected new punitive measures against Russia. Instead, Trump wants to convince Putin with the loosening of sanctions and new trade opportunities.
Since taking office in January, Trump has been on the phone twice with Putin – mid -February and mid -March. Under Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden had largely prevailed between Washington and Moscow for a long time.
