Ceasefire signals grow as US and Russia seek talks

European leaders and Washington weigh the potential for a freeze in fighting as talks with Moscow and Kyiv loom

Ceasefire Signals Grow as US and Russia Seek Talks

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a freeze in the Ukraine war may be closer, after speaking with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He cited signals and intuition that a pause in fighting could be near, while the White House presses for a high level summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Trump has said he would meet Putin one on one without preconditions, a stance that could leave Ukraine out of the frame. Putin said a meeting with Zelenskyy is possible but only if certain conditions are created. US and Russian officials have reportedly discussed a deal in which Russia halts its offensive in exchange for territorial concessions, a plan that would be politically fraught in Kyiv. Zelenskyy has kept in touch with European leaders who are channels to Trump, and talks about venues for a potential summit have floated Switzerland, Rome, Hungary and the UAE. Officials have given mixed signals about whether a summit will occur.

The idea of a freeze shifts urgency from battlefield moves to diplomatic timing. A pause might stabilise lines but could freeze contested gains and silence Ukraine’s voice in negotiations. If a deal skirts Kyiv, public backlash and political risk could rise at home and abroad.

Within Washington and Moscow, opinions are mixed. Some officials push for bold diplomacy, others worry about concessions that could undermine Ukraine’s security. European partners are balancing support for Kyiv with a desire to avoid a destabilising escalation, making consensus fragile and time-sensitive.

Highlights

Diplomacy must prove it can keep pace with the urgency on the ground.