Moscow REFUSES to commit to Putin-Zelensky peace talks, saying 40-minute call with Trump was only 'fairly constructive' – as Finland's PM questions if 'untrustworthy' Kremlin despot has 'courage' needed to act following US-led bid to end Ukraine war https://t.co/PHffv0wH13
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) August 19, 2025
Vladimir Putin has failed to commit to peace talks with President Zelensky – fuelling fears he will pull out of efforts to end the Ukraine war at the last minute.
It comes as the Kremlin branded a 40-minute phone call between President Trump and Putin on Monday as ‘frank’ and only ‘fairly constructive’.
Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov made the comments as he confirmed the pair had explored ‘raising the level of representatives of Moscow and Kyiv at the talks’.
Meanwhile, the Finnish prime minister also urged caution about the prospects for peace in Ukraine – as he labelled his Russian counterpart as ‘untrustworthy’.
Speaking after he left Trump’s historic talks in the White House with Zelensky and other European leaders, Alexander Stubb said: ‘Putin is rarely to be trusted.
‘So now it remains to be seen whether he has the courage to come to this type of meeting.
‘Does he have the courage to come to a trilateral meeting, or is he once again playing for time?’
Stubb’s rhetoric was in stark contrast to that of President Trump who hailed the success of Monday’s talks in the White House.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15012535/Moscow-REFUSES-commit-peace-talks.html