Russia’s Next Move? Putin Signals Readiness for Renewed Ukraine Talks with Trump

(The Post News)- Russian President Vladimir Putin told former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday that Moscow is ready to engage in a new round of peace talks with Kyiv after June 22, once the ongoing exchanges of prisoners and the bodies of fallen soldiers are completed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, has not confirmed whether Ukraine will participate in the proposed talks. He stated only that “the exchanges will be completed and the parties will discuss the next step.” The call marked the fifth time Putin and Trump have spoken since the Republican leader launched his efforts to reassert influence on the global stage and reset U.S.-Russia relations a sharp contrast to the approach taken by President Joe Biden’s administration in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trump’s conciliatory tone toward Moscow has alarmed Washington’s allies, raising fears about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine. European nations are now bracing for the potential withdrawal or reduction of U.S. military, intelligence, and financial assistance, which could significantly impact Ukraine’s war effort. According to the Kremlin, the two leaders expressed “satisfaction with their personal relations” during the call and emphasized their ability to “communicate in a businesslike manner and seek solutions to pressing issues on the bilateral and international agenda, no matter how complex.” Zelensky, responding to the call, urged the United States to “shift tone” in its engagement with Russia. He warned that overly friendly dialogue risks sending the wrong message and undermining efforts to end the war. “Any signals of reduced aid, or of treating Ukraine and Russia as equals, are deeply unfair. Russia is the aggressor. They started this war. They do not want to end it,” Zelensky said in a post on X. He also cautioned that growing tensions in the Middle East particularly the recent Israeli strike on Iran could divert U.S. attention and resources away from Ukraine. Past escalations in the region have already delayed critical aid deliveries to Kyiv. “We would like to see aid to Ukraine not decrease because of this,” Zelensky said. “Last time, this was a factor that slowed down aid to Ukraine.” On Saturday, Ukraine and Russia conducted their fourth prisoner exchange of the week, part of a broader plan to repatriate 1,000 wounded prisoners from each side and return the remains of deceased soldiers. Images shared by Zelensky on Telegram showed Ukrainian soldiers many visibly injured and wearing camouflage wrapped in flags, embracing loved ones or making emotional phone calls after disembarking from buses. Russia’s defense ministry also released footage of its returning troops, showing uniformed men waving Russian flags, cheering, and chanting “Glory to Russia.” As part of the Istanbul-mediated agreement, Kyiv reported receiving 1,200 unidentified bodies from Russia. Moscow claimed they were the remains of “Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel.” Ukraine did not disclose whether it had returned any bodies to Russia in exchange. Despite these limited agreements, Russia continues to reject calls for a ceasefire. It has demanded that Ukraine cede territory and renounce all Western military support as preconditions for peace terms Kyiv has repeatedly refused. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, millions of Ukrainians have been displaced, and large swathes of eastern Ukraine have been reduced to rubble by relentless Russian bombardment. In recent weeks, Moscow has intensified its offensives, focusing on the northeastern Sumy region in what it describes as an effort to create a “buffer zone” to protect its own Kursk region parts of which were previously controlled by Ukrainian forces. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had halted Russia’s advance on Sumy and successfully retaken one village. He also dismissed Russian claims that their troops had entered the Dnipropetrovsk region. According to the Ukrainian president, approximately 53,000 Russian soldiers have been deployed in the Sumy operation. As both sides continue to exchange fire on the battlefield and bodies across borders, the prospect of meaningful peace talks remains uncertain. While Moscow signals readiness for dialogue, Kyiv remains wary, insisting that any future negotiations must recognise Ukraine’s sovereignty and the cost already paid in blood and displacement.