US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to hold talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, March 18. The announcement was made on board the presidential plane Air Force One, Reuters reported. According to the head of the White House, the main goal of the upcoming conversation is to find ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, although he stressed that the success of the talks remains in question. 

Trump expressed optimism about the prospects for dialogue, noting that significant preparatory work had been done in recent days.

"We want to see if we can end this war. Maybe we can, maybe we can't, but I think we have a very good chance," — the American president said.

He also specified that during the conversation with Putin he intends to discuss key aspects of the settlement, including issues of territorial concessions and control over strategic facilities, such as power plants.

"I think a lot of this is already being discussed by both sides, Ukraine and Russia. We are already talking about it, dividing certain assets," — Trump added, without going into details. 

Trump’s statement comes amid an intensification of diplomatic efforts by his administration since taking office in January 2025. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Special Representative Steve Witkoff have previously repeatedly emphasized that Washington is seeking a speedy end to the conflict, considering compromises including freezing the front line and providing security guarantees. In particular, in early March, talks were held in Saudi Arabia with representatives of the United States and Ukraine, where a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire was discussed, which could become the basis for a broader agreement. 

However, the Russian side continues to insist on fulfilling its strategic conditions. Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Grushko previously stated that Moscow demands a neutral status for Ukraine, its refusal to join NATO, and the consolidation of control over new territories, including the Zaporizhia region, where the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe, is located. The issue of managing this station, as well as access to Black Sea ports, remains one of the most difficult in the negotiating process, given their importance for both sides. 

International experts say that the talks between Trump and Putin could be a decisive moment in resolving the conflict, but their success will depend on the willingness of the parties to compromise. According to Bloomberg, the Trump administration is considering transferring responsibility for long-term security guarantees for Ukraine to European countries, which underlines Washington’s desire to share the burden with NATO partners. Senior US officials, including Vice President James David Vance, will travel to Europe in the near future to discuss the issue.