U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday about ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, stating that discussions between negotiators have already addressed the potential division of assets.
“I’ll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work’s been done over the weekend,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One during a late flight back to Washington from Florida. “We want to see if we can bring that war to an end. Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance.”
Trump’s remarks come as he seeks Putin’s support for a 30-day ceasefire proposal, which Ukraine accepted last week. Despite ongoing heavy aerial strikes, Russian forces are edging closer to displacing Ukrainian troops from their established position in the western Russian region of Kursk.
Discussions Focus on Potential Concessions
“We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants,” Trump said in response to questions about potential concessions. “I think we have a lot of it already discussed very much by both sides, Ukraine and Russia. We are already talking about that, dividing up certain assets.”
Trump’s comments follow an earlier statement from his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who told CNN that Putin “accepts the philosophy” behind Trump’s ceasefire and peace terms. Witkoff described last week’s talks with Putin as “positive” and “solution-based,” though he declined to confirm whether Putin’s demands included Ukrainian troop surrender in Kursk, the international recognition of Ukrainian territories seized by Russia, restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to mobilize, a halt to Western military aid, and a ban on foreign peacekeepers.
Putin Outlines Conditions for Peace
Putin, who expressed support for a ceasefire on Thursday, also outlined specific conditions that need to be negotiated before a deal can be finalized. Among Moscow’s concerns is the deployment of European troops to provide security guarantees for Ukraine after a ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron disagreed with this, asserting that Russia’s consent was not necessary. “If Ukraine requests allied forces to be on its territory, it is not up to Russia to accept or reject them,” Macron said in remarks widely reported by French media.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that any lasting peace treaty on Ukraine must align with Moscow’s demands. “We will demand that ironclad security guarantees become part of this agreement,” Grushko told Russian media outlet Izvestia. “Part of these guarantees should be the neutral status of Ukraine, the refusal of NATO countries to accept it into the alliance.”
Ukraine Reshuffles Military Leadership
Diplomatic negotiations continue even as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a shakeup in the country’s military leadership. Zelenskyy replaced Anatoliy Bargylevych, the chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, with Andriy Gnatov, a seasoned military officer with over 27 years of experience. Gnatov’s primary task will be to enhance the efficiency of Ukraine’s military operations, bringing more combat experience into the planning of both defensive and offensive strategies.
“He is a combat guy,” Zelenskyy said of Gnatov. “His task is to bring more combat experience, the experience of our brigades in planning operations, defensive and offensive, as well as more active development of the corps system.”
Restructuring the Ukrainian Armed Forces
In line with these changes, Ukraine is restructuring its military command to improve coordination and combat effectiveness. Defence Minister Rustem Umerov also confirmed these efforts, writing on Facebook that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being “systematically transformed.” “This involves restructuring the command system and implementing clear standards,” Umerov said.
Bargylevych has been reassigned as the chief inspector of the defense ministry.
