Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to hold separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and members of NATO on May 19, 2025. The primary objective of these calls is to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and push for a ceasefire.
Trump stated that the calls aim to stop the "bloodbath" in Ukraine, where reports indicate significant casualties on both sides. He expressed hope for a productive day that leads to a ceasefire and the end of the war.
Earlier on May 17, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation to discuss potential paths toward resolving the conflict and the outcomes of the May 16 Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul. These high-level discussions underscore the international effort to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine.