U.S. President Donald Trump told European leaders during a private call that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unwilling to end the war in Ukraine, believing he is currently winning, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar with the discussion.
The remarks were made during a Monday conference call that included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other European officials. The comments mark a shift from Trump’s earlier public stance, where he indicated Putin might be open to peace.
Publicly, Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would begin ceasefire talks to end the ongoing conflict. “I believe it went very well. Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,” Trump said following a separate conversation with Putin.
However, behind closed doors, Trump appeared to scale back his support for tougher measures. While he initially mentioned sanctions on Russia to European leaders on Sunday, he reportedly backed away from that position by Monday. Instead, he proposed restarting negotiations between Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican, with talks expected to begin in mid-June.
Despite not pushing for new sanctions, the private call provided clarity on Putin’s unwillingness to halt the invasion. European leaders considered the conversation a partial success, as it reaffirmed the challenges ahead and signaled that greater European responsibility will be needed in supporting Ukraine.
The development comes amid continued global scrutiny of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and adds a new dimension to diplomatic efforts involving the U.S., NATO allies, and the Vatican. The proposed peace talks may offer a pathway, but skepticism remains about Putin’s true intentions.