• Trump plans to hold talks about the Ukraine war after a summit with Putin yielded no breakthroughs.
• A scheduled call with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy aims to discuss next steps in negotiations.
• European leaders, including Macron, will join Trump in dialogues intended to provide security support for Ukraine.
• Trump expressed frustration over the prolonged conflict, mentioning the difficulty in achieving peace.
• Putin remains reluctant to engage meaningfully in negotiations to resolve the war.

United States President Donald Trump announced his intention to hold talks regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, following a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin that failed to yield positive results. Trump has expressed frustration over his inability to halt the fighting, which has persisted since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He had initially anticipated a swift resolution to the conflict when he assumed office in January, highlighting the ongoing challenges he faces in achieving peace, according to Dawn, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.

A White House official confirmed that Trump is set to speak by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday. This conversation is expected to take place after a largely virtual meeting hosted by France involving around 30 countries, which aims to discuss future security support for Ukraine once a peace agreement with Russia is reached. European leaders are also anticipated to condemn Moscow's reluctance to negotiate, as indicated by reports from multiple sources, including Dawn, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.

Despite initial expectations of progress, Putin's stance reveals a reluctance to end the war. Following his meeting with Trump in Anchorage, Putin reiterated his minimal interest in negotiations, stating he sees a “light at the end of the tunnel” but emphasized that any resolution would require significant concessions from Ukraine. He has indicated that negotiations could be attempted but is also prepared to resolve conflicts by force if necessary, according to Dawn, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.

During a press conference, Trump expressed his disappointment regarding the length of the conflict, stating, “I thought that would be much easier,” indicating that the resolution has proven more complicated than anticipated. He has hinted at the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia if significant progress is not made, as discussed by Dawn, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.