Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed willingness to bring the war in Ukraine to an end, according to reports following a lengthy phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The two leaders reportedly spoke for more than two hours, marking a significant step in ongoing global efforts to resolve the conflict. Citing Russian state media, Putin stated that Moscow is open to working with Kyiv on drafting a formal agreement aimed at achieving a ceasefire.
Both presidents appeared positive about the outcome of the call. Trump described the tone of their conversation as “excellent,” while Putin referred to it as “informative” and “frank.”
The conversation comes amid growing international momentum for peace negotiations. European and American leaders have shown support for Pope Leo XIV’s offer to host the talks at the Vatican—a proposal confirmed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Following Trump’s call with Putin, he reportedly spoke with several European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Vice President met with Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s top diplomat, to discuss global religious freedom, the persecution of Christians, and the shared commitment between President Trump and the Pope to end violence in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Though the details of the Vice President’s conversation with the Pope were not disclosed, the meeting preceded Trump’s public endorsement of the Vatican as a possible host location for the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations.