WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - A phone call is set for Tuesday between Presidents Trump and Putin as the U.S. tries to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump administration officials have been meeting with both sides to lay the groundwork for this call, but Ukraine and its European allies worry this could all just be talk.
"We're going to have a very important call,” said Trump.
President Donald Trump plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone Tuesday to try to get Russia to accept the 30-day ceasefire agreement Ukraine already supports.
"I've got to get the deal signed,” said Trump.
President Trump would not say whether that could happen Tuesday, but the White House is optimistic.
"We've never been closer to a peace deal than we are in this moment,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains skeptical warning Putin is all talk when it comes to peace.
"Ukraine wants it. I know they want it. Everybody wants it,” said Trump.
President Trump says he and Putin will discuss swaps of Ukrainian land and a nuclear power plant.
"It's a tough, imperfect, nuanced, and complicated process,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell says both sides will have to make concessions to end Russia's war.
"The release of hostages, when you're talking about potential ceasefire agreements when you're talking about territory,” said Parnell.
The White House did not rule out additional sanctions against Russia to pressure Putin to accept the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
