In a dramatic move during high-stakes diplomacy in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump interrupted a closed-door meeting with European leaders to make a direct phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to an EU diplomat.
The call reportedly took place on Monday, as Trump hosted a summit with European heads of state to discuss Ukraine’s future and the terms of a potential peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow. The interruption took many in the room by surprise, the diplomat said, and immediately shifted the tone of the meeting.
While details of the conversation between Trump and Putin have not been released, the timing raises new questions about the U.S. president’s approach to peace negotiations. The call came amid mounting concerns among European allies that Trump may be pushing for a fast-track deal that risks sidelining Ukraine’s key demands, including security guarantees and territorial integrity.
European leaders have been united in urging caution, stressing that any settlement must be fair to Ukraine and backed by enforceable commitments. The sudden call to Putin adds another layer of complexity to an already tense diplomatic balancing act.
Earlier in the day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to meet within the next two weeks — a major development credited largely to Trump’s influence behind the scenes.
However, the direct outreach to Putin in the middle of a strategy session with European allies is likely to fuel both speculation and criticism, particularly among those wary of Trump’s history of warm rhetoric toward the Russian leader.
Whether the call was a strategic move to keep negotiations moving — or a sign of Trump going it alone — remains unclear. But the moment underscores the unpredictable nature of these talks and the delicate dynamics at play as world leaders try to bring the war in Ukraine to an end.