Trump Pledges Parley With Putin to End Ukraine Bloodbath

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an effort to end what he called the ongoing “bloodbath” in Ukraine.

Speaking at a campaign event on Saturday, Trump claimed he would hold phone calls with both leaders on Monday, signaling his personal initiative to broker a ceasefire in the devastating war that has gripped Eastern Europe for over three years.

“I will get them together and we’ll stop this terrible bloodshed. Thousands are dying every week—it must end,” Trump said.

The remarks come as recent peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, held in Istanbul, showed modest progress but failed to secure a ceasefire.

Both sides agreed to a significant prisoner exchange, with 1,000 detainees to be released by each, but the talks stalled over Russia’s demand that Ukraine withdraw from the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

While Trump has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the war, his latest pledge signals a more proactive diplomatic stance.

“Both Putin and Zelenskyy want peace—nobody wants to keep losing people like this,” Trump said. He added that he would also be reaching out to NATO leaders after the calls.

The Kremlin has yet to confirm if such discussions with Trump are scheduled, and there has been no immediate response from Kyiv.

Trump’s comments have sparked a mix of skepticism and curiosity, particularly given his past controversial statements regarding U.S.-Russia relations.

As the international community looks on, many await to see whether Trump’s intervention can have any tangible impact on a war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions across Europe.