In a significant diplomatic development, a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was established following a one-hour phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Shortly after the agreement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Thursday that efforts were underway to secure a more permanent peace.

“We currently have a partial ceasefire in place. However, the President is dispatching a highly capable and experienced team to Saudi Arabia later this week to advance negotiations. We have never been this close to achieving peace,” Leavitt stated.

Shift in Tone Following Trump-Zelenskyy Call

The recent breakthrough stands in stark contrast to the tense exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy during their last meeting at the White House. While their previous discussions in Washington DC had been contentious, the latest phone call was described by Zelenskyy as “constructive, meaningful, and straightforward.”

Leavitt emphasized the progress made, pointing out that during their last face-to-face meeting, Zelenskyy had not been focused on broader peace negotiations. Instead, Trump had accused him of "risking World War Three." Now, after the phone discussion, Trump characterized the call as "very positive" and affirmed that "things are moving in the right direction."

Ceasefire Talks to Continue in Saudi Arabia

With the limited ceasefire in place, attention is now turning to upcoming diplomatic discussions set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. According to Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, the negotiations will delve into the terms of the ceasefire following the US President’s recent engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskyy has also acknowledged that further technical discussions on the ceasefire will be held in Saudi Arabia this week. However, tensions remain, as Putin has laid out a series of demands—including a halt to military aid to Ukraine—conditions that Zelenskyy has firmly rejected. The Ukrainian leader has reiterated that his country will not cede any territory currently occupied by Russian forces.

As negotiations continue, the world watches closely to see whether this diplomatic momentum will lead to a long-term resolution to the conflict.