US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had held what he described as a “very productive” telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, just hours before he was scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida. The timing of the call drew attention, as it came at a moment when diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine appeared to be intensifying.
Announcing the call on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had spoken with Putin shortly before his planned meeting with Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago. He described the conversation as positive and productive, adding that his meeting with the Ukrainian leader would take place later in the day and would be open to the press. Trump did not provide details of what was discussed with the Russian president but indicated that the call was connected to ongoing efforts to end the conflict.
The phone call took place barely an hour before Trump and Zelenskyy were due to meet in Florida to push forward discussions on a possible peace settlement. The talks come at a sensitive moment, as major differences remain between Kyiv and Moscow, particularly over territory, and as Russia continues to apply heavy military pressure on Ukraine.
Just ahead of the meeting, Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults in recent weeks, firing hundreds of missiles and drones at Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine. The strikes caused widespread disruption, including damage to power infrastructure that affected electricity and heating supplies in parts of the capital. Speaking during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Nova Scotia, Zelenskyy described the attacks as Russia’s response to ongoing peace efforts led by the United States, suggesting Moscow was attempting to strengthen its negotiating position through military force.
Zelenskyy has said he intends to raise several critical issues during his talks with Trump, including the future of eastern Ukraine’s disputed Donbas region and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya confirmed that Zelenskyy and his delegation arrived in Florida late Saturday in preparation for the meeting.
The talks are taking place amid growing uncertainty over Russia’s willingness to compromise. Moscow has consistently demanded that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region, including areas still under Kyiv’s control, and has objected to key elements of recent US-backed peace proposals. On Saturday, President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia would continue military operations unless Ukraine agreed to a rapid settlement on terms acceptable to Moscow.
Earlier this month, negotiations between Putin and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, were described by Russian officials as “constructive,” though no breakthrough was achieved. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov later acknowledged that while discussions had taken place, there had been no agreement on territorial concessions, and the gap between the two sides remained wide.
A five-hour meeting between Russian and US officials at the Kremlin also failed to produce tangible progress. Ushakov said afterward that the crisis in Ukraine was far from being resolved and that substantial work remained. Despite renewed diplomatic engagement, both sides agreed to keep details of the discussions confidential, even as Russia issued fresh warnings to Europe and concern grew in Kyiv over the direction of the talks.
In August, Trump and Putin held a high-profile meeting in Alaska, marking their first face-to-face encounter since 2019. The discussions, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, were described as symbolic but inconclusive. Trump said at the time that some progress had been made, though significant disagreements remained. Putin, for his part, said he was open to ending the conflict but insisted that Russia’s core security concerns had to be addressed first.
That meeting excluded Ukrainian and European leaders, sparking anxiety over the possibility of decisions being made without Kyiv’s direct involvement. Although both sides expressed interest in continued dialogue, fighting on the ground has persisted, and the prospects for a negotiated settlement remain uncertain as diplomatic efforts continue alongside ongoing military operations.
