In what is now a semi-regular occurrence, the workings of U.S.-led global diplomacy has cast a dark shadow over Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin,

Pope Leo XIV has confirmed his willingness for the Vatican to host the next round of Ukraine peace talks, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia should have heralded a new era of diplomacy towards solving Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. Instead, their context, brevity and limited outcomeprovided skeptics with more reasons to doubt Moscow wants peace.

Seven months later, a landmark deal between Ukraine and the Trump administration on Ukraine’s mineral resources was inked. But the road in between was paved with mutual recriminations, a historic Oval Office blowout, “hundreds” of revisions, and finally, a chance meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral.

The call began just after 11 a.m. and ended just after 1 p.m. Over the course of the call, Putin assured Trump that Russia was ready to work toward a potential ceasefire, but Putin said both countries “would need to find compromises to suit all parties,

Few details were known about Monday's call, aside from Trump's reported attempt to initiate peace talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.