Inside Trump’s ‘candid’ 2hr Putin call from first-name terms to family chat as details emerge from Ukraine peace talks
DONALD Trump and Vladimir Putin held a "candid" two-hour phone call on Monday afternoon in a desperate bid to end the three year-long war in Ukraine.
The US President said the negotiations are set to begin "immediately" as Vladimir Putin has finally admitted he must make a deal.
The US President claimed that Putin - who he is on first-name basis with - "wants to stop" the war, adding that negotiations towards a ceasefire will start immediately.
But he warned that there are some "big egos" involved which could make negotiations difficult.
Putin spoke to Russian state media after coming off the call and admitted that he must make a peace deal with Ukraine.
He described the conversation as "very productive" and "quite candid" that was "highly useful".
The tyrant also said that Russia is "ready to work with the Ukrainian side" on a possible future peace agreement, but both sides must be willing to compromise.
According to Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, the call began with mad Vlad congratulating Trump "on the birth of his eleventh grandson" after his daughter Tiffany gave birth last Thursday.
The pair soon delved into the bloody war in Ukraine, taking into account the recent direct talks in Istanbul that failed to bear fruit.
The Trump administration's role in bringing both Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table was also noted as positive by mad Vlad.
But a deadline or timeframe for a ceasefire in Ukraine wasn't discussed - but "Trump, of course, emphasised his interest in reaching an agreement as soon as possible," Putin puppet Ushakov added.
The pair did however talk of another prisoner exchange between Russia and the US, with "another such exchange of nine for nine people" being "worked out".
Zelensky also spoke out on Monday evening to reassert his "red lines" for a peace deal.
The Ukrainian President insisted that he would not give into Russia's territory demands, saying: "Ukraine won’t withdraw its troops on its own territories."
Ushakov also revealed how Trump apparently said: "Vladimir, you can pick up the phone at any time, and I will be happy to answer, I will be happy to talk to you."
Zelensky spoke with Trump "for a few minutes" before his chat with Putin.
The pair spoke again after the call as Trump debriefed a select group of European leaders including Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz and Alexander Stubb.
Follow our live coverage below...
No handshake between Russian and Ukrainian delegations
Zelensky meets Starmer and Macron
Credit: AFP 
Credit: AFP 
Credit: AFP Watch moment peace talks officially kick off
Ukraine & Russia peace talks finally get underway after Trump says he'll 'meet Vlad soon'
Opening statement in peace talks
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened up the peace talks today.
He said it was essential to secure a ceasefire "as soon as possible" in front of both Ukrainian and Russian delegations,
Speaking at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace, Fidan said: "While the war continues to take lives, it is of critical importance that the ceasefire be implemented as soon as possible."
Credit: Sky Russia and Ukraine finally hold first direct peace talks in over three years
Donald Trump officially ends Middle East tour
Zelensky welcomed to rainy European summit in Albania
Credit: AFP 
Credit: AFP 
Credit: EPA Russia officially arrives for peace talks
Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation, has arrived for talks with the US, according to reports.
Credit: Getty When Putin and Zelensky last met in 2019...
Credit: AFP 
Credit: AFP
US and Russia to speak before peace talks begin
US officials are going to talk to Russian negotiators ahead of their direct negotiations with Ukraine soon, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
It comes after Washington spoke with Kyiv representatives earlier this morning away from any Russian members.
Zelensky arrives to European summit in Albania
Starmer accuses Putin of 'dragging his heels'
UK PM Keir Starmer has blasted Russia's Vladimir Putin of "dragging his heels" over peace in Ukraine.
He spoke to reporters in Tirana, Albania, about the recent slow developments over in Turkey where peace talks have been delayed by over 24 hours.
Starmer said: "We saw yesterday and overnight is yet more evidence that Putin is not serious about peace."
Credit: AFP Moscow being made to wait even longer for peace talks
Delegations from Ukraine, US and Turkey have all been meeting this morning in Istanbul in an initial talk without any Russian involvement.
The meeting has now been ongoing for over an hour and has pushed back the official peace talks with Russia and Ukraine which were scheduled for 10:30am.
It is unclear exactly when the meeting will begin.
Ukrainian officials meet with Trump's envoy Kellogg in Turkey
Ukraine-Russia peace talks set to start at 10:30am
European leaders attend summit in Albania
Albanian PM Edi Rama with Keir StarmerCredit: AP 
Albanian PM Edi Rama with European Commission President Ursula von der LeyenCredit: AP 
Albanian PM Edi Rama with Germanyâs Federal Chancellor Friedrich MerzCredit: AP 
Albanian PM Edi Rama with Polish PM Donald TuskCredit: AP Russia's delegation have 'no decision-making power' - Kyiv
Ukraine has scrutinised Vladimir Putin's picks for the Russian negotiators in Istanbul once again.
They have accused them of lacking any real authority to make a meaningful decision at the peace talks.
A senior Ukrainian source said: “Putin sent to Istanbul those who have no fundamental decision-making power.
"If the Russian delegation does have any authority, they can only prove it by agreeing to real steps, in particular a ceasefire.”
Zombie ‘General Blood’ to lead Russia’s ground forces after shock sacking
Ruthless Vladimir Putin has appointed "General Blood" as his new military chief in a chilling warning to Ukraine that the war is far from over.
Andrey Mordvichev, a man often described as Russia's "most bloodthirsty general", is now set lead Putin's troops in their gruelling ground offensive.
The feared Russian will be replacing General Oleg Salyukov, 70, who was fired from his role of head of Russia's military land forces only days after he led the Victory Day parade through Moscow.
Mordvichev is one of Putin's most notorious commanders who is known for allowing tens of thousands of his own men to be killed at war.
Nicknamed "General Blood" for his ruthlessness, the colonel general led a deadly operation to capture the blitzed town of Avdiivka in Ukraine.
Up to 17,000 Russian troops were killed and around 30,000 wounded from his cannon fodder advances as Ukraine recorded losses of between 5,000 and 7,000.
Security ramps up in Istanbul ahead of talks
Credit: Reuters 
Credit: AP 
Credit: AP Who is in the Ukrainian delegation?
Rustem Umerov: Leading the talks will be Ukraine’s defence minister Umerov who has been by Zelensky's side since September 2023.
Andriy Yermak: A mainstay of peace talks is Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff who is widely seen as the second most influential figure in the country after Zelensky.
Vasyl Malyuk: Ukraine’s top intelligence official since February 2023 who has been leading the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Andriy Sybiha: Regarded as Zelensky's most trusted ally, Sybiha was appointed Ukraine’s foreign minister in September 2024, following a long career in diplomacy and presidential strategy.
Andriy Hnatov: Ukraine's recently appointed Chief of the General Staff.
Credit: EPA Russia left out of initial talks between Ukraine, US and Turkey
Credit: Getty 
Credit: EPA
Ukraine-US-Turkey representatives set to speak before Russia peace talks
WATCH: Trump says he will meet Putin soon
Trump says he'll meet Putin 'as soon as we can' as peace talks to FINALLY beginOfficial time for peace talks announced
Ukraine and Russia are finally due to hold crunch peace talks this morning.
Despite hopes of a breakthrough continuing to falter, talks will now go ahead at around 10:30am today, a Turkish military source told AFP.
Russia and Ukraine's delegations will speak just after Turkish and US officials have a personal meeting with Kviv, the source added.
Marco Rubio lands in Istanbul
Donald Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially landed in Turkey ahead of Russia Ukraine peace talks.
The top US diplomat is not expected to attend the negotiations but he will be closely monitoring the situation, the US has confirmed.
Instead, Trump will be represented by US director for policy planning Michael Anton.
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: AFP