The leaders of Britain, France and Germany held a call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (10 December) to discuss Washington's latest peace efforts to end the war in Ukraine, in what they said was a "critical moment" in the process.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz all agreed on the urgency of resolving the conflict.
Macron, arriving late for a public debate in western France, said he had just held a 40-minute discussion with Trump and his European colleagues to see how to move forward on "a subject that concerns all of us".
Separate statements from the so-called E3 powers said the leaders had commended the Trump administration's mediation efforts to achieve a robust and lasting peace in Ukraine, nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
"(The leaders) agreed that this is a critical moment for Ukraine, for its people and for the common security of the Euro-Atlantic region," the British readout said.
Trump told reporters that he had "pretty strong words" with the leaders, which he declined to detail and was urged to send U.S. representatives to a weekend meeting in Europe with Zelenskyy to discuss the way forward.
"We said before we go to a meeting we want to know some things," Trump said.
"They would like us to go to a meeting over the weekend in Europe, and we'll make a determination depending on what they come back with," he said.
"We are waiting to hear answers before we progress. We’re not spending any money in Ukraine. We’re selling basically missiles and other supplies to NATO, and NATO’s paying us. They distribute it to Ukraine, but we’re not spending money. We’re spending a lot of time and a lot of effort,” Trump added.
Trump's comments underline the ongoing tensions surrounding the level of financial and military support the U.S. will continue to provide, especially as the war continues into its second year.
Their latest call on Wednesday comes amid sharp remarks from President Donald Trump and growing uncertainty about the future of Western support.
The phone conversation also comes a day after President Trump was in interviewed by Politico, where he sharply criticised European leaders, calling them “weak” and suggesting that the United States could scale back its support for Ukraine in the future.
President Trump claimed that Ukraine is using the war as a way to avoid holding elections, according to Politico, adding to the growing discord between Washington and Kyiv over political strategies.
He complained that Zelenskyy has not held an election in Ukraine in years and that Ukraine is facing a "massive corruption situation."
In response, Zelenskyy countered by asserting that he is "ready" to hold elections as part of the long-term resolution.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy provided an update on his government’s ongoing work on Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. He said he had discussed plans for rebuilding Ukraine with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other senior American officials.
Zelenskyy emphasised the importance of the “Twenty Points” document, which outlines key steps for ending the war. He also noted that two additional documents, focusing on security guarantees and economic reconstruction, are being developed.
"The Twenty Points to end the war is a fundamental document," Zelenskyy said.
"We are working actively on it. The key steps must be workable. From this document, we are developing at least two more documents: one on security guarantees with the United States and another on reconstruction and joint investments. Today, we specifically worked on the economic document," Zelenskyy added.
As both sides continue to navigate the complexities of the war, the international community remains focused on securing a lasting peace agreement.
When the rules no longer protect you, you must protect yourself,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Davos on Tuesday (20 January), a speec...
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States has an "armada" heading toward Iran but hoped he would not have to use it, as he renewe...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States intends to bid to host the World Expo 2035, backing Miami, Florida, as the propose...
United Nations agencies have taken over the management of vast detention camps in northeastern Syria housing tens of thousands of people associated wi...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian that Türkiye opposes any form of foreign intervention in I...
When the rules no longer protect you, you must protect yourself,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Davos on Tuesday (20 January), a speech that resonated at home and heightened tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who later withdrew Canada’s invitation to the Board of Peace.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States has an "armada" heading toward Iran but hoped he would not have to use it, as he renewed warnings to Tehran against killing protesters or restarting its nuclear programme.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States intends to bid to host the World Expo 2035, backing Miami, Florida, as the proposed host city and promising major economic benefits if the bid is successful.
United Nations agencies have taken over the management of vast detention camps in northeastern Syria housing tens of thousands of people associated with Islamic State (IS), after Kurdish-led forces guarding the sites withdrew amid clashes with Syrian government troops.
Qarabağ claimed a late 3–2 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, scoring deep into stoppage time to secure a dramatic home win in Baku.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow could pay $1 billion from Russian assets frozen abroad to secure permanent membership in President Donald Trump’s proposed ‘Board of Peace’.
“I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the U.S.,” US President Donald Trump told the World Economic Forum. During his Wednesday (21 January) address, he once more cited national security concerns as the reason for wanting to own the Arctic island.
A commuter train collided with a construction crane in southeastern Spain on Thursday (22 January), injuring several passengers, days after a high-speed rail disaster in Andalusia killed at least 43 people.
President Donald Trump says he has agreed a "framework" for a Greenland deal with NATO.
When the rules no longer protect you, you must protect yourself,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Davos on Tuesday (20 January), a speech that resonated at home and heightened tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who later withdrew Canada’s invitation to the Board of Peace.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States has an "armada" heading toward Iran but hoped he would not have to use it, as he renewed warnings to Tehran against killing protesters or restarting its nuclear programme.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States intends to bid to host the World Expo 2035, backing Miami, Florida, as the proposed host city and promising major economic benefits if the bid is successful.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian that Türkiye opposes any form of foreign intervention in Iran, as protests and economic pressures continue to fuel tensions in the Islamic republic.
Vice President JD Vance delivered a broad defence of the thousands of federal agents leading an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, saying that "far-left agitators" and uncooperative local officials are to blame for chaos on the streets.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment