• Trump's two-hour call with Putin leads to immediate ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
• Ukraine's President Zelenskyy accuses Russia of trying to buy time amid ongoing military conflicts.
• EU and UK implement new sanctions targeting Russia's oil exports without waiting for the US response.
• Putin hints at a willingness to cooperate on ceasefire terms, but observers remain skeptical about genuine intentions.
• European leaders express frustration over Trump's softened stance on sanctions against Russia following his call.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a two-hour call on May 19, during which Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire" and an end to the nearly three-year war, according to Dawn and Al Jazeera.

Following the call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed skepticism, accusing Russia of merely "trying to buy time" to continue its aggression, noted in reports from SCMP and Los Angeles News Hub.

In response to Trump's announced negotiations, the European Union and the United Kingdom swiftly implemented new sanctions targeting Russia's oil transport mechanisms, notably its “shadow fleet” of tankers, as emphasized by The New York Times and Channel News Asia.

Despite Trump's assurances, Russian authorities maintained that any ceasefire discussions would depend on addressing the so-called root causes of the conflict, which left many international observers doubtful about any imminent peace, as reported by BBC and Al Jazeera.

The Kremlin's spokesperson reiterated that "there are no deadlines" for any agreements, indicating a reluctance to commit to swift negotiations, adding to the prevailing skepticism about the effectiveness of the latest diplomatic efforts, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.