Overview

• Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held a two-hour call on May 19, with Trump claiming Putin expressed willingness for peace, but no concrete agreements emerged.
• A subsequent multilateral conference call exposed confusion, as Trump inaccurately claimed Putin committed to direct ceasefire talks, prompting skepticism from Ukrainian and EU leaders.
• European leaders criticized Trump's reluctance to impose further sanctions on Russia, contrasting with the EU's 17th sanctions package targeting Russian oil exports.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj rejected any ceasefire terms requiring Ukraine to withdraw troops from occupied territories, emphasizing Russia's lack of genuine commitment to peace.
• Analysts warn that the conflict is far from resolution, with Wolfgang Ischinger describing the ongoing war as a 'marathon' requiring sustained international effort and unity.