US President Donald Trump says Russia and Ukraine to "immediately" start ceasefire negotiations after two-hour call with Vladimir Putin

 

On May 19, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately" commence negotiations toward a ceasefire following a two-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump characterized the discussion as "excellent" and emphasized potential post-war economic opportunities for both Russia and Ukraine. He also noted the Vatican's interest in hosting the peace talks. 

However, the outcomes of the call were more limited than initially portrayed. While Putin agreed to a 30-day pause in strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, he stopped short of endorsing a broader ceasefire. He reiterated demands including Ukraine's withdrawal from the Donbas region, a commitment to not join NATO, lifting sanctions on Russia, and constitutional changes regarding neutrality and the Russian language.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed support for the limited ceasefire on energy targets but criticized Russia's reluctance to commit to a full ceasefire. He accused Moscow of attempting to prolong the war and called on the international community to prevent such efforts. 

Despite the partial agreement, hostilities continued. Shortly after the call, Russia launched drone attacks targeting Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including a hospital in Sumy. Zelensky condemned these actions, stating that they contradicted Putin's earlier commitments.

The White House indicated that negotiations would "begin immediately" to build upon the limited ceasefire, aiming for a comprehensive peace agreement. Further talks are expected to take place in the Middle East, with discussions potentially covering a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and broader terms for ending the conflict. 

Sources: timesofindia, theguardian, nypost, Bloomberg

This is clearly a limited ceasefire. This ceasefire could cause the price of gold to drop to the 3000 level. However, we pray that this will end soon.