MOSCOW (Realist English). Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Moscow is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum for a future peace agreement, which may include a temporary ceasefire. Speaking after a two-hour phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Putin said such a framework is possible if “certain conditions” are met and “mutually acceptable compromises” can be found.
“There is reason to believe that, overall, we are on the right path,” Putin said.
Trump described the conversation with Putin as “excellent in tone and spirit,” and declared that Russia and Ukraine will begin immediate talks on a ceasefire and, more importantly, on “ending the war.”
He noted that the terms would be negotiated directly between Moscow and Kyiv, “because they know the details.” According to Trump, he has already informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as European leaders Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, and Alexander Stubb.
Putin confirmed that Russia is open to a temporary ceasefire if terms are agreed upon. However, he reiterated that eliminating the root causes of the conflict remains a non-negotiable condition for a lasting peace.
The term “memorandum” appears to be a calculated compromise — a way to resume dialogue without formally declaring a ceasefire as a concession. By emphasizing “temporary ceasefire,” the Russian side signals flexibility without locking in commitments. Trump’s framing of the moment as the beginning of peace talks reflects his desire to position himself as the one capable of ending the war. If negotiations proceed, they will likely go beyond military issues and touch on the political structure of any postwar settlement — and the role of the United States within it.
