Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] Putin and Trump's talks have ended.
Putin called the talks meaningful and useful. Putin thanked Trump for organizing the talks with Ukraine.
Russia is in favor of stopping the fighting, but it is necessary to develop the most effective paths forward.
Russia is ready to work on a memorandum with Ukraine, including a ceasefire.
Russia and Ukraine need to find compromises that would suit all parties.
We are on the right track (c) Putin
We will continue to negotiate.
Trump's version.
The conversation with Putin went very well.
Russia and Ukraine will immediately begin talks on ending the war (c) Trump
The full text of Trump's statement:
"My conversation with Putin has just ended. I believe it went very well. Russia and Ukraine will immediately begin talks on a ceasefire and, more importantly, a complete end to the war. The terms will be agreed upon between the two sides - as they should be, because only they know the details of the negotiation process that are not available to anyone else. The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent. If it were not so, I would say so right now, and not later.Russia wants to do massive TRADE with the United States after this disastrous "bloodbath" is over, and I support that idea. Russia has tremendous opportunities to create jobs and build wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Ukraine can also be a major beneficiary of trade relations as it rebuilds its country.
Russia-Ukraine talks will begin immediately. I communicated this to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb in a phone call immediately after my conversation with President Putin.
The Vatican, according to the Pope, has expressed a strong interest in hosting these talks on its territory.
Let the process begin! (c) Trump
More from regnum.ru
Peskov said that a meeting between Putin and Trump is not currently being prepared
A meeting between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is not currently being prepared. This was reported on May 19 by the official Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
“No, it is not being prepared now,” Peskov said, answering a question from journalists.
Earlier on May 19, the Russian leader's press secretary noted: Putin and Trump will decide on a possible meeting and its timing themselves. At the same time, he emphasized that the negotiations between the leaders of Russia and the United States must be productive, and for this they must be well prepared.
Peskov also announced a telephone conversation between the Russian president and his American counterpart, which will take place on May 19 at 17:00 Moscow time. The US president had previously stated that the main topics of the conversation would be a ceasefire in Ukraine and trade issues.