In his conversation with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, among other things, said that Ukraine must cede territory and renounce membership in NATO .
Yesterday, an unexpected acceleration in contacts between Moscow and Washington led to an hour-and-a-half-long conversation between the two presidents that left Zelensky and the European Union stunned .
"We have decided to start negotiations immediately, and I firmly believe that they will be successful ," Trump said. Putin also shared his opinion, saying that a "long-term" solution to the conflict is possible.
On Kiev joining NATO: "I personally don't think it's feasible to have it. I think they said, long before President Putin, that they would never allow such a thing. This has been going on for many, many years. They've been saying it for a long time, that Ukraine cannot join NATO, and I agree ," the tycoon said speaking to reporters. Trump also stressed that Ukraine will have to give up part of its territory, "it's unlikely that it will get everything back." In short, great unity of purpose with Putin, also highlighted by Trump's emphasis on the need for elections in Ukraine soon .
Only after the conversation with Putin, Trump also heard from Zelensky , the two spoke for an hour. The conversation "went very well", wrote the US president on Truth, stating that "Zelensky also wants to make peace" .
"No one - Zelensky responded - wants peace more than Ukraine. Together with the United States, we are mapping out our next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure lasting and reliable peace. As President Trump said, let's do it."
Trump and Putin, who will soon meet in Saudi Arabia, the US president said, have agreed to have their respective teams begin talks without delay. The US team will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. The US is reportedly not planning to participate in any peacekeeping force after a ceasefire .
Zelensky and the European Union have tried to parry the blow. In an interview with The Economist, the Ukrainian president said he was convinced that Trump does not yet have a plan to end the conflict. "Without consultations with us, I think it cannot be completed," he added. "Europe must be present at the negotiating table because the outcome will affect us greatly," was the request of the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas.
Zelensky also tried to float the idea of a territory swap with Moscow, proposing to return the small portion of the Russian Kursk region occupied by Ukrainian troops for parts of Ukrainian provinces conquered by the Russians. "This is impossible, Russia has never discussed and will never discuss exchanging its territory ," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, promising that Kiev's military units still present in Kursk will be "destroyed."
(Online Union)
