Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky had a “very good” hour-long phone call about the US’ plans for implementing a ceasefire in Ukraine.
It comes after a meeting between the two leaders last month erupted into a shouting match which threatened to end international relations between the US and Ukraine. Trump’s furious outburst saw him accuse Zelensky of “gambling with World War 3“, before the meeting was cut short and Zelensky was asked to leave the White House with no minerals deal signed.
After their call today, Trump took to his social platform Truth to say the leaders are “very much on track” towards a peace deal. He wrote: “Just completed a very good telephone call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. It lasted approximately one hour. 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.
Trump continued: “We are very much on track, and I will ask Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, to give an accurate description of the points discussed. That Statement will be put out shortly.”
Zelensky confirmed Ukraine was ready to implement a limited energy and infrastructure ceasefire. He said: “I had a positive, very substantive, and frank conversation with President of the United States Donald Trump. We agreed that Ukraine and the United States should continue working together to achieve a real end to the war and lasting peace. We believe that together with America, with President Trump, and under American leadership, lasting peace can be achieved this year.”
He added: “One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure. I supported this step. The American side also proposed an unconditional ceasefire on the frontline, and Ukraine accepted this proposal as well. We will continue working to make this happen.
“I thanked President Trump and the American people for their support. I stressed that Ukrainians want peace, which is why Ukraine accepted the proposal for an unconditional ceasefire.”
The US President had previously called for Ukraine to allow the US to extract mineral resources worth $500billion. Under the deal, Ukraine would have contributed 50% of all revenue earned from government-owned natural resource assets into the fund, which included mineral deposits, oil, natural gas and other resources.
After his failed meeting with Zelensky last month, Trump cut off military aid to Ukraine and paused intelligence sharing, before restoring it the following week. Since then, relations between the two have seen a slight improvement, with the Ukranian President saying he is ready to work towards a peace deal under the Trump’s “strong leadership”.
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On Tuesday, Trump spoke over the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin – who agreed for both sides to stop targeting energy infrastructure for 30 days, continued peace talks and Back Sea negotiations. But Putin did not agree to a proposal for a full ceasefire, backed by the US and Ukraine, which would have seen an immediate 30-day stop to fighting on land, air and sea.
According to the White House, the call saw the leaders agree “that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace.”
At a press conference held shortly after Trump’s chat with Zelensky on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read out a statement which described the call as “fantastic” and “productive”. She said talks between Trump and Zelensky’s have “significantly helped” in efforts towards a peace deal. “We have never been closer to peace,” Leavitt said. During their chat, Zelenskyy thanked the US for Javelin missiles provided to Ukraine by Trump and for pushing for prisoner exchanges.
The leaders also agreed to share information closely on the ongoing situation in Kursk. Zelenskyy asked for additional air defence missiles to protect Ukraine’s civilians – to which Trump replied he would work with him on this, but would look at what was available in Europe. Press Secretary Leavitt said intelligence sharing in terms of Ukraine defence will continue.
The leaders are due to take part in more detailed talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in the coming days – with a view towards a wider ceasefire on the Black Sea.
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