U.S. President Donald Trump is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss a potential end to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The upcoming conversation has sparked optimism for a possible ceasefire in the region.
“We’re doing pretty well with Russia,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening. “I’ll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work’s been done over the weekend.”
The discussions aim to build on a 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine accepted last week. Key topics are expected to include territorial issues and control of power plants within Ukraine.
“We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants,” Trump said, hinting at significant negotiations ahead. “I think we have a lot of it already discussed very much by both sides, Ukraine and Russia.”
Challenges Ahead
Zhao Junjie, a researcher at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that redrawing Ukraine’s territorial boundaries will be a primary focus of the talks. “Russia may put forward territorial demands and ownership of nuclear power plants, which are expected to spark intense disputes between Russia and Ukraine,” Zhao said.
He added that any territorial concessions by Ukraine could lead to public backlash. “Negotiating land exchanges remains one of the most challenging aspects of the talks,” Zhao explained. “Whoever holds the advantage will gain certain benefits, potentially receiving compensation or even territorial concessions.”
Recent Diplomatic Efforts
The U.S. and Russia have engaged in frequent interactions recently. About a month ago, Trump and Putin discussed the situation in Ukraine and the peaceful settlement of the conflict during a phone call. Both leaders agreed to keep in contact and consider arranging a future meeting.
High-level officials from both countries have since met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they agreed to work toward ending the three-year conflict and restoring bilateral relations. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff described the discussions as “positive, upbeat, and constructive.” Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov called them a “serious discussion of all key issues.”
In a statement from the U.S. Department of State, both sides agreed to establish a consultation mechanism to “address irritants” in their relationship and work toward normalizing diplomatic operations. High-level teams will begin “working on a path” to ending the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible.
Optimism for Peace
Zhao believes the upcoming talks could yield progress. “Russia has paid a heavy price in the ongoing conflict, while Ukraine continues to suffer daily troop losses. Both sides have reached a point where seeking peace and reconciliation has become necessary,” he said.
He also noted that with the new U.S. administration shifting its stance on the conflict, if Washington pushes to end it, both Russia and Ukraine are likely to follow suit.
“The U.S. and Russia could be entering a new era of global cooperation,” Zhao suggested. He explained that if Trump seeks to rebuild ties with Russia, negotiations may cover nuclear weapons, revisions to treaties, personnel security, and the supply of strategic materials. This could help ease tensions between Russia and the European Union, creating momentum for ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
However, Zhao cautioned that if both sides remain deadlocked over key issues, achieving peace will be far more challenging.
