In a critical moment for Ukraine-Russia relations, US President Donald Trump is preparing for high-stakes phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, May 19, 2025, amid renewed diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in the devastating conflict.

Zelenskyy’s Rome Diplomatic Mission

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been engaged in what he described as “real diplomacy” during meetings in Rome on Sunday. There, he held significant talks with top US officials including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the US ambassador’s residence. The meetings come at a crucial time as various world leaders gathered in Rome for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.

“We are engaged in real diplomacy to get a ceasefire,” Zelenskyy stated during his Rome visit, emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict that has now raged for over three years.

The meeting between Zelenskyy and Vance is particularly noteworthy as it marks their first face-to-face encounter since a reported disagreement during an Oval Office meeting earlier this year. According to reports, the two officials had a more constructive dialogue in Rome, focusing on the path forward for peace negotiations.

European Leaders Unite in Call with Trump

In a significant display of transatlantic coordination, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom held a joint phone call with President Trump on Sunday. According to a UK government spokesperson, the European leaders emphasized the need for an “unconditional ceasefire” and urged Putin to take peace talks seriously.

The call highlights the unified stance of major European powers ahead of Trump’s conversation with Putin. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni all stressed the importance of a coordinated approach to ending the conflict. 

“The leaders discussed the need for an unconditional ceasefire and for Putin to take peace talks seriously,” the UK government spokesperson stated after the call. This unified message comes as European nations seek to ensure their positions are clearly communicated ahead of the Trump-Putin conversation. 

Russia’s Record Drone Attack

Against this backdrop of intensified diplomacy, Ukraine reported that Russia launched its largest drone barrage since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Ukrainian Air Force announced that Russia fired a staggering 273 exploding drones and decoys at several Ukrainian regions overnight from Saturday to Sunday.

The attack predominantly targeted the central Kyiv region, where the drones killed at least one woman and injured several others. Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept 88 drones, while 128 others reportedly vanished from radars, likely deployed as decoys to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense systems.

“Russia launched 273 Shahed attack drones and various types of imitator drones,” the Ukrainian Air Force stated, highlighting the unprecedented scale of the aerial assault. The timing of this massive attack, just hours before Trump’s scheduled calls with Putin and Zelenskyy, has raised questions about Russia’s commitment to peace negotiations.

Trump’s Diplomatic Initiative

President Trump has characterized his upcoming call with Putin as an effort to end what he called the “bloodbath” in Ukraine. The call is scheduled for Monday at 10:00 a.m., to be followed by separate conversations with Zelenskyy and NATO leaders.

“I will be speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday, at 10:00 a.m.,” Trump announced on his Truth Social account. The US president has indicated that he intends to push for a ceasefire deal and discuss potential paths toward a resolution of the conflict.

Trump’s diplomatic efforts come amid criticism of his previous statements regarding Ukraine. According to some reports, he has lambasted Zelenskyy and criticized Ukraine for not doing more to end the war that Russia initiated with its full-scale invasion in 2022.

What’s at Stake

As these high-level diplomatic engagements unfold, the stakes for Ukraine, Europe, and global security remain extraordinarily high. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, displaced millions of Ukrainians, and created ongoing instability in Europe.

The record-breaking drone attack underscores the urgency of finding a diplomatic solution, even as it raises questions about Russia’s sincerity in peace negotiations. With Trump set to engage directly with both Putin and Zelenskyy, Monday’s calls could potentially mark a pivotal moment in determining the future direction of the conflict.

Will Russia respond to international pressure for a ceasefire? Can Ukraine secure terms that protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity? And will Trump’s personal diplomacy succeed where other efforts have failed? The answers to these questions may begin to emerge following Monday’s critical phone calls.

As the world watches these diplomatic maneuvers unfold, the people of Ukraine continue to bear the brunt of a war that has now entered its fourth year with no immediate end in sight.