On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former U.S. President Donald Trump had their first conversation since a recent Oval Office meeting. This call comes after negotiations in Saudi Arabia aimed at establishing a proposed 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. While Ukraine and the U.S. support this ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the idea during a phone call with Trump earlier this week.
During their conversation, Zelensky expressed openness to a partial ceasefire. He suggested a quick halt to attacks on energy infrastructure, railways, and port facilities. However, he warned that Ukraine would respond if Russia violated any ceasefire agreements. He emphasized the importance of having a formal document in place to ensure compliance.
Trump shared insights from his call with Zelensky on his social media platform, Truth Social. He mentioned that the discussion aimed to align the needs and requests of both Ukraine and Russia. Trump also indicated that efforts towards a ceasefire were progressing.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio later provided more details, stating that Trump had agreed to assist Ukraine in acquiring additional air defense systems, particularly from Europe. He mentioned that both leaders decided to enhance information sharing between their defense teams as the situation on the battlefield evolves.
The topic of Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants was also discussed. Trump suggested that American expertise could help manage these facilities, with the idea that U.S. ownership would provide better protection for the energy infrastructure.
Zelensky described his conversation with Trump as positive, frank, and substantial. He expressed hope that, with American support, a lasting peace could be achieved this year. He noted, however, that he doubts Putin would agree to a full ceasefire while Ukrainian forces remain active in Russia’s western Kursk region, especially after a surprise attack by Ukraine last August.
Both leaders have indicated a willingness to stop attacks on energy infrastructure but have accused each other of continuing strikes. Following this dialogue, technical teams from Ukraine and the U.S. are set to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to further discuss these issues.