The ultimatum to Putin! Donald Trump is pushing the Kremlin with maximum force to end the war in Ukraine

The efforts of US President Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine are reaching a climax - this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly turned to Vladimir Putin with a proposal to hold negotiations, and the Russian president is maneuvering, writes Bloomberg.

After a busy diplomatic weekend, Zelensky confirmed that on May 15 he will visit Istanbul, where direct talks between Ukraine and Russia may be held at Putin's initiative.

However, the peace initiative remains under threat, as there are many unresolved issues and distrust surrounding it. Zelensky and European leaders are demanding that Russia begin a 30-day ceasefire from Monday, otherwise they promise new tough sanctions. According to them, the United States would support these actions, although Donald Trump has so far been cautious in his public statements. Meanwhile, Putin has not yet responded to these calls.

On Thursday, Trump gave a new impetus to diplomacy, calling on the leaders to agree on a ceasefire. On Sunday, he repeated his call to Zelensky and Putin.

"Meet now!!!", Trump wrote in a post on the social network Truth Social.

The United Kingdom is also preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia - Foreign Minister David Lammy is to announce them on Monday (May 12) at a meeting of security ministers from European countries, which will be held in London for the first time.

The changes in the Ukraine case come in parallel with the intensification of US foreign policy - this week Trump is to visit the Persian Gulf states. Washington has also reported progress in talks with China on trade, with Iran on its nuclear program, in containing the conflict in Gaza and in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan.

In recent weeks, Trump has increasingly coordinated with European allies and the Ukrainian leadership in an effort to pressure the Kremlin to end the war that has lasted more than three years. But his restrained public statements have somewhat contrasted with the Europeans' position, raising doubts about the White House's resolve to impose a new round of sanctions.

On Saturday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk traveled to Kiev in a show of support for Zelensky. They effectively gave Putin an ultimatum: either stop the attacks or new sanctions would begin on Monday.

According to a European official familiar with the situation, Trump has privately agreed to the allies' position, including the possibility of additional sanctions if circumstances warrant.

However, even with US support, a new round of sanctions by the European Union will not be easy - unanimity is needed from all 27 member states, and Hungary has repeatedly blocked previous initiatives.

Turkey is expected to host the talks on Thursday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who spoke with Putin on Sunday, said he hoped the talks would lead to a long-term end to the war:

"We do not rule out that during these talks it will be possible to agree on some new ceasefires", Putin told reporters in the Kremlin, adding that Moscow was ready to talk "without any preconditions" and wanted to discuss "the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine and establish a lasting peace".