Good morning and welcome to our blog covering developments in the Ukraine-Russia conflict following yesterday’s call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
While the US leader described the conversation as “excellent”, the Kremlin refused to agree to a ceasefire, despite pressure from Washington and European allies.
Speaking to reporters in Sochi after the two-hour conversation on Monday, Putin described the call as “very meaningful and frank” and said he was prepared to work with Ukraine on drafting a memorandum for future peace talks.
However, the Russian leader declined to support the US-proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which Ukraine had already agreed to – and which Washington had framed as the call’s primary objective. Putin also suggested his country’s maximalist objectives in the war with Ukraine were unchanged.
Trump said he spoke with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders after his call with Putin.
In a statement late on Monday, Zelenskyy insisted Ukraine was ready for a full ceasefire and direct negotiations with Moscow, but said: “If the Russians are not ready to stop the killings, there must be stronger sanctions. Pressure on Russia will push it toward real peace.”
Stay with us for all the day’s developments.
