President Trump described his Wednesday morning call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “very good” as they seek agreement with Russia for a ceasefire and an end to the war.
Mr Trump offered few details about the hour-long call, beyond saying they discussed his conversation Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs. We are very much on track,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Moscow did not accept a 30-day full ceasefire proposed by Mr. Trump but agreed to a temporary pause in attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and energy facilities.
Both the White House and Mr. Zelenskyy confirmed the call.
“We will discuss the details of the next steps with him,” Mr. Zelenskyy said ahead of their conversation. “For us, the red line is the recognition of the Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories as Russian. We will not go for it.”
Mr. Zelenskyy said Russia is continuing to hit Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite the U.S. saying that Mr. Putin agreed to lay off those targets. On Tuesday night, Russia launched a series of drone strikes that targeted civilian areas and damaged a hospital in Ukraine.
“We will support any proposals that lead to a sustainable, just peace. But we must understand what is at stake. What are the details? And I hope to God that we know all these details, so that the partners talk to us. Because there are two sides in this war – Russia and Ukraine. Trying to negotiate without Ukraine, in my view, will not be productive,” Mr. Zelenskyy said.
The White House released a statement Tuesday saying Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin agreed that “the movement toward peace” should begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire as well as a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, followed by a “full ceasefire and permanent peace.”
“These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East,” the statement said.
On Truth Social, Mr. Trump described the conversation with his Russian counterpart as “good and productive.”
“Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end,” Mr. Trump wrote. “That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!”
