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Phone conversation comes just hours before Trump and Zelenskyy meet in Florida to advance Ukraine peace talks
US President Donald Trump on Sunday confirmed that he held what he described as a “very productive” telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, shortly before a scheduled high-level meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida.
Trump disclosed the call via a post on his Truth Social platform, noting that it took place just ahead of his 1:00 p.m. meeting with Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
“I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 PM today, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The meeting will take place in the main dining room of Mar-a-Lago. Press is invited,” Trump wrote.
The call came roughly an hour before Trump and Zelenskyy were set to meet to push forward diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, despite deep divisions over territory and Russia’s continued military offensive.
Fresh Russian Strikes Ahead of Talks
The diplomatic engagement followed a major escalation on the battlefield. On Saturday, Russia launched a large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine, firing hundreds of missiles and drones at Kyiv and other regions. The strikes disrupted electricity and heating supplies in parts of the Ukrainian capital.
Speaking during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Nova Scotia, Zelenskyy described the attacks as Moscow’s response to US-led peace initiatives, suggesting Russia was attempting to strengthen its negotiating position through military pressure.
Key Issues on the Table
Zelenskyy has said he plans to raise several critical issues during his talks with Trump, including the future of the disputed Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Serhiy Kyslytsya, confirmed that Zelenskyy and his delegation arrived in Florida late Saturday.
However, the talks come amid uncertainty over Russia’s willingness to compromise. Moscow has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region, including areas still under Kyiv’s control, and has raised objections to key elements of the latest US-backed peace proposal.
On Saturday, President Putin reiterated that Russia would continue military operations unless Ukraine agreed to a swift peace on Moscow’s terms, as Russian forces reported further territorial gains.
Previous Diplomatic Efforts Stall
Earlier this month, talks between Putin and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, were described as “constructive” but yielded no breakthrough. Senior Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said no compromise was reached on territorial concessions, despite a five-hour meeting at the Kremlin.
“We are no closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine, and there is much work to be done,” Ushakov said.
The meeting marked one of the most significant US-Russia engagements since the war began, reflecting renewed efforts by the Trump administration to broker an end to the conflict. However, both sides agreed to keep details confidential amid renewed Russian warnings to Europe and growing concern in Kyiv and across the continent.
Earlier Trump-Putin Summit
In August, Trump and Putin held talks in Alaska lasting more than two and a half hours, but failed to reach an agreement to end or pause the war. The meeting, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, was the first in-person encounter between the two leaders since 2019.
Trump said progress had been made, though major disagreements remained, and indicated that further talks were likely after Putin invited him to Moscow. Putin described the summit as an initial step toward resolution but insisted Russia’s core concerns must be addressed.
The Alaska meeting excluded Ukrainian and European leaders, raising concerns about possible concessions being discussed without their involvement.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, heavy fighting continues in Ukraine, with both sides still far apart on the conditions required to bring the war to an end.
