Zelenskyy says he has call with Trump after White House’s failed bid to halt Putin
Ukrainian president says the Russian leader’s “words are at odds with reality,” as ceasefire talks go nowhere helpful for Kyiv.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, stated on Wednesday that he would be addressing the United States. President Donald Trump today, following a call between the White House and Kremlin that failed to agree on a full ceasefire in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy was speaking in Helsinki, during a press conference alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb, during which he noted that Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s “words are at odds with reality.”
Zelenskyy went on to say, "I will be contacting President Trump today, and we will be discussing the details" of his call with Moscow.
A much-hyped ceasefire of energy infrastructure strikes lasted only an hour after the Trump-Putin call on Tuesday, when Russia attacked Ukraine with drones and Kyiv hit back at an oil depot in the Krasnodar region. Zelenskyy’s call with Trump will mark the first official direct contact between the two leaders since a testy exchange in the Oval Office late last month, after which the Ukrainian President and his team quickly left the White House.
Asked if Kyiv would set any red lines for a future peace deal with Russia, Zelenskyy listed the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, no Russian say on the future state of Ukraine’s armed forces, tangible security guarantees, as well as the exchange of prisoners, including the return of those who have been “tortured to death.”
He appeared to rule out officially giving up occupied territories such as Crimea or part of the Donbas to Russia, saying: “The areas that are temporarily occupied, are temporarily occupied.”
However, Zelenskyy expressed doubt that Russia would honor any verbal commitment, arguing that Putin's compliance with the terms of a ceasefire would require a "control mechanism." “Putin’s assurances and words that he issues an order to not strike energy — that is insufficient,” added Zelenskyy.
Steve Witkoff, Trump's war envoy, made the announcement late on Tuesday that American and Russian peace negotiators would hold new negotiations this weekend in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.