 "US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, US, September 27, 2024. File Image/Reuters")
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (February 12) held talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky over the phone, shortly after his 1.5-hour-long conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Just spoke with Donald Trump. Long conversation. About the possibilities of achieving peace. About our willingness to work together. About our technological capabilities, including drones and other modern manufacturing,” Zelensky said following the call.
“Ukraine wants peace more than anyone else. We are defining our joint steps with America to stop Russian aggression and guarantee a reliable, lasting peace,” he added.
Trump wrote on social media that Zelensky emphasised the need for “peace” during the discussion.
“I just spoke to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. The conversation went very well. He, like President Putin, wants to make PEACE,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
He added that Zelensky would be meeting with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Munich on Friday.
Trump-Putin call
Before talking to Zelensky, Trump held a phone call with his Russian counterpart and agreed that talks to end the war in Ukraine would start “immediately”.
In his post on Truth Social, Trump said both leaders agreed “to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine."
“We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Volodymyr Zelensky, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now,” Trump added.
Kremlin also confirmed the call, saying the discussions lasted for 90 minutes and Putin invited Trump to Moscow.
Trump said he has formed a team, consisting of State Secretary Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and National Security Advisor Michael Waltsz, to lead the peace talks.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMunich Security Conference in Germany
Trump’s talks with Putin and Zelensky came days ahead of the Munich Security Conference in Germany , where the US administration is expected to present its peace plan for Ukraine.
Bloomberg reported last week, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the plan would be unveiled by Trump’s special peace envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.
(With inputs from agencies)