Trump, Putin to Discuss Ukraine Conflict Amid Diplomatic Tensions

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold another phone call as part of the ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This call comes at a time when high-level meetings and discussions are taking place involving top officials from the United States, Ukraine, and Europe.

Several of Trump's key Cabinet members, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, are currently in Paris for talks with their European counterparts. The focus of these discussions is on finding a path to a "fair and lasting" peace in Ukraine, with security guarantees being a central topic. These talks in Paris follow a week after Witkoff's meeting with Putin in St. Petersburg, where they had an extensive conversation about the current status of the peace talks.

The Kremlin has highlighted that the Paris meeting is an opportunity for Witkoff to update European officials on the progress of the peace negotiations. However, there is a palpable sense of tension and mistrust among European leaders. They believe that the Trump administration's approach to negotiating with Russia has been too lenient and has not yielded significant results. French President Emmanuel Macron, in particular, is seeking clarity on the United States' stance and whether it still views Russia as the primary aggressor in the conflict.

Trump has described Russia's missile strike on Sumy as "terrible" but has stopped short of directly blaming Putin for the attack, which resulted in the deaths of 34 people. This cautious approach has raised concerns among European allies about the United States' commitment to supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.

The ongoing diplomatic efforts underscore the complex nature of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the challenges faced by international actors in finding a resolution. The upcoming phone call between Trump and Putin is expected to further the dialogue and potentially pave the way for a more stable and peaceful future in the region.