Bangladesh, May 20 -- In a dramatic turn of diplomatic events, US President Donald Trump has announced that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will commence “immediately” following a lengthy phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The high-stakes call, held on May 19 and lasting over two hours, centered on finding a pathway toward ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. Both leaders described the exchange as productive, with Trump calling it “excellent in tone and spirit” and Putin labeling it “frank” and “very useful.”

The call marks the first direct communication between the two presidents since Trumps return to the Oval Office and signals a potentially significant shift...