Trump seeks ceasefire as Russia-Ukraine conflict escalates
The U.S. President, Donald Trump, stated on Saturday that efforts to prevent further escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian war are "somewhat under control."
"Rational discussions" and having good relationships with presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine are key to negotiating an end to the war, Trump mentioned during an interview on board Air Force One, conducted by Clay Travis, founder of the sports website Outkick.
Last week, Trump held separate talks with Putin and Zelensky, aiming to end the war initiated by Russia.
These talks, although they did not result in the full one-month ceasefire sought by Trump, ended with Putin agreeing to halt Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. However, Putin intensified airstrikes on civilian targets in Ukraine.
This past week, the Kremlin launched massive attacks on Odesa, Kropyvnytskyi, and Kyiv.
On Sunday, Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that the White House is striving for an agreement on a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war to be reached before 20 April.
Authorities in Washington also admitted that the timeline for reaching an agreement may shift due to significant differences between the positions of Ukraine and Russia, according to individuals familiar with the plan and quoted by Bloomberg.
This year, on the same day, 20 April, Christian churches of the Western and Eastern rites celebrate Easter. Previously, Russian media reported that it is around this time that a meeting between the U.S. and Russian leaders, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, might take place.
