Trump to call Putin and Zelensky, seeks winter de-escalation

Donald Trump is preparing to call Vladimir Putin and then Volodymyr Zelensky, aiming for a winter de-escalation of the war, though no concrete breakthrough emerged from recent US envoy visits to Moscow and Kyiv. Putin has expressed general willingness to resume trilateral talks, but only after Russia's Duma elections on September 18-20, according to French sources. Zelensky remains skeptical, warning of a possible new Russian offensive targeting Kyiv and Chernihiv, and notes Putin may offer Trump a "diplomatic victory" before November's midterms. US proposals reportedly included a pause on strikes against energy infrastructure, which Putin rejected, and possible sanctions relief, though unconfirmed. A three-day truce on capital raids has ended, with Russian drones already reported heading toward Kyiv.