Washington: US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday his intention to communicate with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday in an effort to advocate for a ceasefire.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump revealed his plans on Truth Social, stating he will initiate the conversation with Putin at 10:00 a.m. This will be followed by a call to Zelenskyy, in which several NATO leaders will also participate. The primary focus of these discussions will be to halt the ongoing conflict, which reportedly results in the loss of over 5,000 soldiers weekly. Trump also mentioned the inclusion of trade issues in his dialogue with the Russian president.

Trump expressed optimism about the potential outcomes of these diplomatic efforts. He wrote on Truth Social that he hopes for a productive day leading to a ceasefire and the conclusion of what he describes as a violent war, asserting that it is a conflict that should never have occurred.

The announcement comes on the heels of direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegates in Istanbul, Turkey, marking their first face-to-face negotiations in over three years. Despite Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's presence in Turkey, he did not participate in the negotiations due to Putin's absence. The discussions concluded with an agreement from both sides to release 1,000 prisoners of war each. Additionally, a separate meeting involving the US, Ukraine, and Turkey took place the same day.

Earlier in the week, Trump had indicated the possibility of attending the Istanbul talks but ultimately did not make the trip. On Friday, Trump emphasized the necessity of a meeting with Putin to bring an end to the war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the importance of such a meeting but emphasized the need for careful preparation.