Trump and Putin poised for ceasefire talks as envoy reports "positive" progress in Ukraine negotiations

By bellecarter // 2025-03-18

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to discuss a proposed 30-day ceasefire, marking a significant step toward reducing hostilities in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Steve Witkoff, a Trump envoy and real estate mogul, played a key role in recent talks, describing his meeting with Putin as "positive" and noting progress in narrowing gaps between the warring parties.
Despite optimism, challenges remain, including Putin's concerns about implementation and Ukraine's refusal to surrender encircled forces, highlighting deep mistrust between the two sides.
The ceasefire, if agreed, would be the first major pause since Russia's 2022 invasion, which has caused massive casualties, displacement and geopolitical shifts. Critics fear a deal without security guarantees for Ukraine could legitimize Russia's territorial gains.
The U.S. and its allies remain cautious, with concerns over Trump's approach potentially favoring Russia. Ukrainian President Zelensky warns Putin may be "playing for time," while NATO membership for Ukraine appears unlikely.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to discuss terms for a 30-day ceasefire. The announcement came from Steve Witkoff, a special envoy to Trump, who described his recent meeting with Putin as "positive" and "solution-based." The discussions, which lasted between three and four hours in Moscow last week, mark a significant step toward narrowing the gap between the warring parties. However, questions remain about the Kremlin's true intentions and whether a lasting peace can be achieved. Witkoff, a real estate mogul and long-time associate of Trump, has emerged as a key figure in the U.S. administration's diplomatic efforts. His visit to Moscow followed talks in Saudi Arabia, where U.S. and Ukrainian officials agreed on a ceasefire proposal. "We had some really positive results coming out of Saudi Arabia," Witkoff said on CNN. "I describe my conversation with President Putin as equally positive. Back before this visit, there was another visit, and before that visit, the two sides were miles apart. The two sides are today a lot closer." (Related: Trump says "very good chance" for Ukraine war ceasefire after talks with Putin.) Despite the optimism, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges. Putin has expressed support for a temporary truce but raised concerns about its implementation. He also granted Ukrainian forces encircled in Russia's Kursk Region time to surrender, promising them "dignified treatment." However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga stated on Saturday that Kyiv's forces in the region would continue their operations, underscoring the deep mistrust between the two sides. The proposed ceasefire, if agreed upon, would mark the first significant pause in hostilities since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Europe. For Ukraine, the stakes are existential. For Russia, the war has become a costly quagmire, with Western sanctions and military aid to Kyiv eroding Moscow's strategic position. Witkoff's diplomatic efforts come amid growing concerns that the Trump administration's approach could tilt the balance in Russia's favor. Critics fear that a ceasefire without clear security guarantees for Ukraine could legitimize Russia's territorial gains, including its annexation of Crimea and control over parts of eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought to portray Kyiv as open to Trump's plans while warning that Putin may be "playing for time." "This is not what someone who wants a quick end to the war does," Zelensky wrote on Telegram on Sunday, referencing Russia's recent escalation, including over 1,000 drone attacks and 1,300 guided air bombs launched on Ukrainian territory in the past week.

Diplomatic maneuvering and western skepticism

The U.S. and its allies have been cautious about the terms of any potential deal. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has attempted to rally a coalition of Western nations to form a peacekeeping contingent for Ukraine, but such a mission would likely require U.S. backing – something Trump has not committed to. Meanwhile, Russian officials have repeatedly ruled out the presence of Western troops on Ukrainian soil. Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, hinted at the complexities of the negotiations in an interview with ABC's "This Week." "We can talk about what's right and wrong," Waltz said. "And we also have to talk about the reality of the situation on the ground." He suggested that permanent NATO membership for Ukraine was "incredibly unlikely" and questioned whether it was plausible to believe that "we are going to drive every Russian off of every inch of Ukrainian soil, including Crimea." The upcoming call between Trump and Putin will be a critical test of whether the two leaders can bridge their differences and deliver a meaningful ceasefire. For Trump, the negotiations represent an opportunity to fulfill his long-standing promise to end the war, a key plank of his foreign policy agenda. For Putin, the talks offer a chance to consolidate Russia's gains while easing international pressure. Watch the video below that talks about the impending ceasefire talks between Trump and Putin. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Diplomatic maneuvering and western skepticism

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