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In a detailed conversation held on Wednesday, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in over an hour of talks concentrating on the Ukraine conflict. Trump admitted that the dialogue would not result in an "immediate peace" in Ukraine, cautioning that Russia is likely to retaliate against Ukraine's recent successful attacks on Russian airfields.

Despite his campaign promises to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, Trump did not dissuade Putin from potential retaliatory actions, according to his summary of the discussion on his Truth Social platform. Instead, Trump highlighted Putin's willingness to participate in U.S. discussions concerning Iran’s nuclear program, which Trump claimed was progressing slowly.

Putin, speaking separately on the same day, dismissed the idea of a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine, arguing it would only benefit Kyiv by allowing it time to reorganize and rearm. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized Moscow’s recent peace proposals as mere ultimatums rather than genuine efforts towards resolution.

Negotiations in Istanbul on Monday had not produced any significant progress towards a ceasefire, with both Ukrainian and Russian officials indicating only incremental movement on matters such as the exchange of captives and the return of bodies. Russia reported working on the return of over 300 Ukrainian children, whom Kyiv and the International Criminal Court (ICC) allege were abducted by Russian forces. Additionally, a prisoner exchange was anticipated in the following days, alongside plans for repatriating the bodies of soldiers from both sides.

President Zelenskyy stated that he anticipated a swap of 500 prisoners of war this weekend but described Russia's broader peace proposal as a non-negotiable ultimatum, requiring a Ukrainian withdrawal from four partially occupied regions. Ukrainian officials requested additional time to review the document presented by Russia, which reiterated its maximalist demands.

In his televised remarks on Wednesday, Putin rejected the Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional 30-60 day ceasefire, citing concerns over Ukraine using the break to acquire more Western arms and prepare further attacks. He referenced recent Ukrainian offensives, including attacks on bridges and a mass drone strike on Russian airfields that damaged or destroyed numerous aircraft.

Trump's Truth Social post detailed that the recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian airfields were discussed during his call with Putin, with the Russian leader asserting his intention to respond to these attacks. Trump noted that Ukraine had not informed him of the drone attacks beforehand.

On the same day, Putin also received a call from Pope Leo XIV, marking the pontiff's first direct communication with the Russian leader since his ascension. The Vatican relayed the Pope's appeal for Russia to take steps conducive to peace.

As the conflict continues, Russia has captured additional territory in Ukraine's northern Sumy region, claiming over 150 square kilometers. Trump, who frequently vowed to settle the Ukraine conflict swiftly during his campaign, did not advocate for détente in his recent comments but emphasized Putin's offer of assistance in U.S.-Iran talks.

While a comprehensive ceasefire remains elusive, both Ukrainian and Russian officials have shown willingness to proceed with prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of fallen soldiers' bodies. Discussions also included efforts toward resolving the cases of Ukrainian children taken by Russian forces, though progress remains limited.

The talks included Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressing his desire to host a summit involving Putin and Zelenskyy alongside Trump. While Zelenskyy has been open to direct discussions with Putin, the Russian leader has remained non-committal, citing the ongoing Ukrainian attacks as a significant barrier to any potential summit.