U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, March 18, a conversation that could mark a turning point in efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. This call also presents an opportunity for Trump to continue reshaping American foreign policy.
Trump revealed the planned discussion while traveling from Florida to Washington aboard Air Force One. The Kremlin later confirmed Putin’s participation in the call.
“We will see if we have something to announce maybe by Tuesday. I will be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work’s been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end.”
President Donald Trump
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the scheduled talks but refrained from revealing any details, emphasizing that “we never get ahead of events” and “the content of conversations between two presidents are not subject to any prior discussion.”
Trump’s approach to the war has sparked concern among European allies, who remain wary of his relationship with Putin and his tough stance on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Just weeks ago, Trump was openly critical of Zelenskyy during his visit to the Oval Office.
Despite Russia’s failure to overthrow Ukraine in its full-scale invasion three years ago, Moscow continues to occupy significant portions of Ukrainian territory.
Trump acknowledged that territorial disputes, including power plants, are key issues in the peace discussions. “We will be talking about land, we will be talking about power plants,” Trump said, describing the process as “dividing up certain assets.”
To advance negotiations, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited Moscow last week for preliminary discussions.
“President Trump is the ultimate decision maker, our decision maker, and President Putin, for the country of Russia, is their decision maker.
“I think it’s a very positive sign that the two of them will be talking at some point. I think that’s showing that there’s positive momentum.”
Steve Witkoff
Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions following its invasion in 2022 — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia — but does not fully control any of them. Last year, Putin listed the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from these areas as a prerequisite for peace. Additionally, in 2014, Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine.
Among the most strategically significant areas under Russian control is the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe. The facility has repeatedly come under fire during the conflict, raising fears of a potential nuclear disaster.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, a U.N. body, has repeatedly warned about the risks posed by ongoing military activity near the plant.
Tariffs Move Forward Despite Market Uncertainty
Meanwhile, as global tensions remain high, President Donald Trump is pressing forward with his economic agenda. He reiterated his commitment to implementing tariffs on April 2, despite recent volatility in the stock market and concerns about economic repercussions.
“April 2 is a liberating day for our country. We’re getting back some of the wealth that very, very foolish presidents gave away because they had no clue what they were doing.”
President Donald Trump
While Trump has occasionally adjusted tariff plans in the past, such as in negotiations with Mexico, he emphasized that there would be no changes to his approach to reciprocal tariffs.
“They charge us and we charge them. Then in addition to that, on autos, on steel, on aluminum, we’re going to have some additional tariffs.”
President Donald Trump
As these global events unfold, the upcoming conversation between Trump and Putin and Trump’s tariffs carry significant geopolitical weight. Whether they lead to tangible progress in ending the war in Ukraine or economic growth in the U.S. remains to be seen.
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