By Tom Balmforth, Andreas Rinke, John Irish KYIV/BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) -For Ukraine and its allies, who spent months trying to win Donald Trump over to their cause in the war started by Russia, it is back to square one.

Following years of outright conflict in Ukraine, President Donald Trump said that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants peace between the two countries.

A telephone call between the two leaders was the latest chapter in a flurry of diplomatic maneuvering over ending the three-year conflict.

By Guy Faulconbridge, Steve Holland and Max Hunder MOSCOW/WASHINGTON/KYIV (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Russia's Vladimir Putin about Ukraine on Monday, after Vice President JD Vance said Washington could walk away from the peace process and conclude that "this is not our war".

The White House disputes the officials’ account, saying Trump believes Russia is winning in Ukraine but still wants peace.

During a press gaggle aboard Air Force Two on May 19, 2025, Vice President JD Vance remarks that the Trump Administration will give up on ending the Russia-Ukraine War if Vladimir Putin is unwilling to end it.

The U.S. president has made concession after concession to Putin without requiring any reciprocity, sending a glaring message of weakness,” Rubin writes.

Ukraine would like U.S. President Donald Trump to be present at a potential meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrinform reported on May 23, citing Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.