Trump, Putin Hold Call as US Seeks Sign-Off on Plan to End Ukraine War

Trump said earlier that Washington and Moscow are 'dividing up assets' as part of a deal to end conflict

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

The White House says President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have begun a highly anticipated call as the US administration looks to persuade the Russian leader to sign-off on a 30-day ceasefire proposal as a possible pathway to end the war.

Tuesday's call comes after Ukrainian officials last week agreed to the American proposal during talks in Saudi Arabia led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, remains skeptical that Putin is ready for peace as Russian forces continue to pound Ukraine.

Trump, before the call, said he expected to discuss with Putin land and power plants that have been seized during the grinding three-year war. White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino said in a social media posting that the leaders' call began at 10 a.m. Eastern and was "going well."