FT: Trump "amazed" European leaders by describing agreements with Putin

European leaders who participated in a conversation with US President Donald Trump after his call to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin were "amazed" by the Republican's description of the agreements reached, a source familiar with the conversation told the Financial Times.

The Presidents of Russia and the United States had a more than two-hour telephone conversation on the evening of May 19. Following its results, Trump said that Russia and Ukraine will begin negotiations "immediately". He added that the conditions for this should be agreed by the parties themselves, since "they know the details" that no one else knows. Trump called the conversation with Putin "good" and announced "some progress" in the settlement process.

Putin, after a conversation with Trump, declared his readiness to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a future peace treaty, in which it would be necessary to define "a number of positions", such as the principles of a peaceful settlement, the timing of a possible conclusion of a peace agreement, as well as a potential ceasefire for a certain time when agreements are reached.

Vladimir Zelensky allowed the signing of such a memorandum, adding that Kiev is waiting for the Russian version of the document. He also said that the Ukrainian side is considering the possibility of a new meeting of all participants in the settlement process — Russia, the United States, Ukraine and Europe — in Turkey, the Vatican or Switzerland.

After the conversation with Putin, Trump phoned Zelensky and informed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French and Finnish Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about the results of the conversation.

The latter said that Europe had agreed with Trump to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions. The 17th package of sanctions is expected to be adopted on May 20 The EU in relation to Moscow. The United States has repeatedly warned Russia about the possible imposition of new sanctions if there is no progress in resolving the conflict, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Moscow considers Western sanctions illegal and demands their removal. The Kremlin stressed that the "language of ultimatums" in the dialogue with Russia is unacceptable, RBC reminds.