When U.S. President Donald Trump called Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin days after renewed talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul, many expected him to take a harder stance toward the Kremlin leader,

Trump announced he will speak Monday by phone with Putin and Zelenskyy days after peace talks in Istanbul end with planned prisoner exchange

During a two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump refrained from issuing any ultimatums, instead proposing further "peace talks," The Economist reports. This approach, the publication argues,

President Trump said the tone and spirit of his two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday about the war in Ukraine were "excellent," and Russia and Ukraine would "immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire.

The United States of America and Europe will decisively strengthen sanctions against Russia if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to engage in peace negotiations with Ukraine in a spirit of goodwill,

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Putin and Zelenskyy have never spoken face to face, and the last publicly known negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow took place in March 2022. Western media outlets,

The Russian president abruptly canceled plans to meet face-to-face with Zelensky in Turkey last week. President Zelenskyy, left, and Vice President Vance greet each other as Secretary of State Rubio, center, looks on at St. Peter's Square Sunday. AP/Gregorio Borgia

Moscow’s proposal for peace talks backfired as Ukraine’s European allies persuaded Zelensky to accept U.S. cease-fire plan.