Axios: Trump asked Putin to propose something that Kiev and the EU can accept.

US President Donald Trump told European leaders and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky that he had called on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to propose something in a memorandum on the settlement of the conflict that all parties could agree on. This was reported on May 20 by the Axios portal, citing sources.

"Trump told Zelensky and European leaders that he had asked Putin to present 'something that people can agree with,' rather than make a proposal that would be rejected immediately," the article says.

According to the newspaper, such a proposal caused "puzzled surprise" of the participants in the telephone conversation.

Also, during a conversation with the leaders of the European Union (EU), the American leader said that Russia and Ukraine should hold direct bilateral talks without third-party intermediaries, since the parties better understand all the details of the conflict.

The opposite situation: a new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine may take place again in Istanbul

At the same time, Moscow and Washington are discussing a meeting between the two presidents on how the dialogue on conflict resolution will develop.

Putin said on May 19, following a telephone conversation with Trump, that Russia was ready to work on a memorandum with Ukraine, including a cease-fire. According to the Russian leader, Moscow stands for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. In addition, the head of state pointed out the need to find compromises that would suit all parties.

Later, Trump said that Russia and Ukraine would soon begin negotiations on the suspension of hostilities and the end of the conflict. According to him, he informed Zelensky about his conversation with Putin, as well as a number of partners, including French leader Emmanuel Macron, head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.