US President Donald Trump said that Putin and Zelensky had expressed their desire to make peace in separate phone calls with him. In response, Trump instructed senior US officials to begin talks to end the war in Ukraine, Reuters reports.
The talks came after Trump’s defense secretary said Kyiv would have to abandon its goals of joining NATO and returning all territory that Russia had seized.
After a phone call that lasted more than an hour, Trump said that Putin wanted the war to end and that they had discussed the possibility of “a ceasefire shortly.”
“He wants the war to end. He doesn’t want it to end and then start again six months later,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“I think we’re on the path to peace. President Putin wants peace, President Zelensky wants peace, and I want peace. I just want people to stop getting killed,” he added.
Donald Trump said his first meeting with Vladimir Putin “will most likely” take place in Saudi Arabia.
Trump spoke with Zelensky after speaking with Putin, and the Ukrainian president’s office said the call lasted about an hour.
Trump said he agreed with Ukraine’s withdrawal from NATO. “It is unlikely and impractical that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. It is also unlikely that Ukraine will return to its 2014 borders; perhaps some of the lost territory will be returned.”
Key points from Trump’s speech at the White House:
A ceasefire in Ukraine is likely to be established “shortly.”
He said he agreed with the idea of Ukraine’s withdrawal from NATO.
The United States intends to continue assisting Ukraine but wants guarantees to protect its investments. The US Treasury Secretary should bring a relevant document from Kyiv.
Ukraine will have to hold presidential elections at some point.
Plans to have frequent phone conversations with Putin.
Considers it unlikely that Ukraine will return to the 2014 borders.
It does not rule out that Ukraine will be able to regain some of its lost territories.
He announced that he was waiting for Putin to visit the US and was ready to visit Russia himself.
The first meeting with Putin may take place in Saudi Arabia.
He confirmed that he has suggested that Putin stop military operations in Ukraine. The Russian president has said that he does not want a temporary solution.
