Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held two separate phone calls with US President Donald Trump, centered on a potential ceasefire and how to respond if Russia continues to block peace efforts.
In a briefing, Zelensky said the first call focused on issues “crucial for Ukraine” — mainly a ceasefire, which he said had been discussed earlier in Istanbul and in previous negotiations.
“Before his conversation with Putin, I asked Trump not to make decisions about Ukraine without us. This is very important for us,” Zelensky said. “We agreed to stay in touch. We had a long discussion — over an hour, I believe.”
During the second call, European leaders including Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, and Alexander Stubb joined the conversation. Zelensky said the discussion was “lengthy and diverse,” and that Trump emphasized the importance of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelensky added that if Moscow’s proposals are unacceptable or aimed at forcing Ukraine into a one-sided agreement, he asked the US to treat that as proof Russia is not serious about peace — and to respond with tougher pressure.
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