Trump sees good sign for peace as Putin rails against Western competitors

A highly anticipated phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump yesterday saw the two leaders gear up to discuss Ukraine and the "normalization" of US-Russian ties.

"It's a bad situation in Russia, and it's a bad situation in Ukraine," Trump told US media. "What's happening in Ukraine is not good, but we're going to see if we can work a peace agreement, a ceasefire and peace, and I think we'll be able to do it."

That positive assessment, according to ABC News, follows his prediction a day earlier that "we'll see if we have something to announce," adding that "a lot of work" had been done over the weekend. "Maybe we can. Maybe we can't, but I think we have a very good chance."

Putin, ahead of the call, told Russian business leaders not to count on fully free trade or movement of capital being restored in the event of Western sanctions on Russia being eased.

"Our competitors will always want to weaken and contain us," Putin said.

"Even if one side will make a gesture and offer to lift or ease something, another method of causing problems for us will be found immediately."

This came as Ukraine's foreign minister urged Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and Washington.

"It is time for Russia to show whether it really wants peace," foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.

Putin earlier said he accepted the idea in principle but wants certain conditions to be met.

Trump has already said the US and Russia are talking about dividing "assets" as part of a push to end the fighting, suggesting that many decisions have already been made.

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