By Joke Kujenya
A CRUCIAL phone call between Presidents Donald Trump of United States, and Vladimir Putin of Russia, is set for Tuesday, with discussions expected to centre on ending the Ukraine war through a 30-day ceasefire and potential territorial concessions by Kyiv.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters he was optimistic about brokering a deal.
“We want to see if we can bring that war to an end. Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance.”
The former president is attempting to secure Putin’s backing for the ceasefire proposal, which Ukraine accepted last week. However, fierce aerial bombardments continued on Monday, and Russian forces advanced in the western Russian region of Kursk, aiming to dislodge entrenched Ukrainian units.
Trump hinted at territorial discussions, stating: “We’ll be talking about land. We’ll be talking about power plants … We’re already talking about that, dividing up certain assets.”
While specifics remain unclear, the remarks likely reference the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest facility of its kind.
The White House confirmed that the plant was part of ongoing discussions, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating, “There’s a power plant on the border of Russia and Ukraine that was up for discussion with the Ukrainians, and he, Trump, will address it in his call with Putin.”
The Kremlin confirmed the scheduled talks but declined to comment on any land or power plant negotiations.
Putin previously sent Trump a message through U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, signalling “cautious optimism” for a possible resolution to the three-year conflict.
In television appearances over the weekend, key officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, acknowledged that major hurdles remained before Russia would agree to a ceasefire.
Asked whether the U.S. would accept a peace deal allowing Russia to retain seized Ukrainian territory, Waltz remarked, “We have to ask ourselves, is it in our national interest? Is it realistic? … Are we going to drive every Russian off of every inch of Ukrainian soil?”
He warned that without compromise, the alternative could be “endless warfare” or even a direct global conflict.
Ukraine and NATO’s Position
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, while accepting the interim ceasefire, has remained firm on sovereignty, stating that any agreement must not legitimise Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian land.
Moscow, however, is demanding “ironclad” guarantees that Ukraine will not join NATO and will remain neutral. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko underscored this position, stating, “We will demand that ironclad security guarantees become part of this agreement.”
Meanwhile, European leaders voiced scepticism over Russia’s intentions. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed Moscow’s conditions, arguing they demonstrated a lack of genuine commitment to peace.
“Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen echoed this sentiment, stating that placing concessions on Ukraine “would compromise international law.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed that several nations, including the UK and France, are prepared to deploy peacekeeping troops should a deal be reached. Defence officials are scheduled to meet this week to refine their strategy.
However, Russia has rejected peacekeeping forces, warning that their deployment would equate to direct involvement in the conflict.
“If they appear there, it means they are deployed in the conflict zone with all the consequences for these contingents as parties to the conflict,” said Grushko.
Trump Moves to Shut Down VoA
In a separate development, Trump has signed an executive order dismantling Voice of America (VOA), citing its “radical propaganda” and anti-Trump bias.
The order, announced by the White House, aims to halt taxpayer funding for VOA’s parent company, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which also oversees Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia.
These media entities, originally established to counter communist propaganda, have been ordered to minimise operations to legal minimums.
VOA employees were informed of the shutdown via an internal email from USAGM Human Resources Director Crystal Thomas.
Freelance workers and international contractors were reportedly told their funding had been terminated.
Federal grants supporting Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty were also axed.
Mike Abramowitz, VOA’s director, confirmed that nearly all 1,300 staff members had been placed on paid leave, calling the move a major blow to U.S. public diplomacy.
“This hampers our critical mission, especially as disinformation from Russia, China, and Iran rises,” he said.
Trump’s decision aligns with his long-standing criticisms of the media. He has frequently attacked mainstream outlets such as CNN and MSNBC, labelling them “corrupt” and accusing them of bias against him. He recently appointed political ally Kari Lake as a special adviser to oversee USAGM’s transition.
VOA, founded in 1942 to counter Nazi and Japanese propaganda, has long been a staple of U.S. international broadcasting. Its editorial independence was enshrined in a public charter signed by President Gerald Ford in 1976, but the latest order casts doubt on its future.
