Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he plans to speak with President Donald Trump a day after the U.S. president spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone.
“Today, I will have contact with President Trump,” Zelensky told reporters in Helsinki, Finland. “We will discuss the details of the next steps with him.”
The White House does not have any public events on the calendar for Trump on Wednesday, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is scheduled to deliver a press briefing at 1 p.m.
The lengthy phone call between the U.S. and Russian leaders on Tuesday was described by the White House positively regarding the possibility of peace in the Ukraine-Russia war, but Zelensky has concerns about Russia’s intentions.
The readout of the Trump-Putin call from the White House included an agreement toward peace beginning with an “energy and infrastructure ceasefire,” but Zelensky said shortly after the call that Russia had not obeyed that vow. The Ukrainian president noted in a post on X that Russia had hit civilian infrastructure Tuesday night.
“It is these types of nighttime attacks by Russia that destroy our energy sector, our infrastructure, and the normal life of Ukrainians. And the fact that this night is no exception shows that the pressure on Russia must continue for the sake of peace,” Zelensky said.
He also declared that Putin had, in effect, rejected a move toward a full ceasefire, which Ukraine had agreed to last week.
“Today, Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire. It would be right for the world to respond by rejecting any attempts by Putin to prolong the war,” Zelensky said. “Sanctions against Russia. Assistance to Ukraine. Strengthening allies in the free world and working toward security guarantees. And only a real cessation of strikes on civilian infrastructure by Russia, as proof of its willingness to end this war, can bring peace closer.”
TRUMP AND PUTIN AGREE TO PRELIMINARY CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS IN MIDDLE EAST
Trump has been adamant in his hope to resolve the conflict, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump expressed confidence that both Ukraine and Russia want the war to end.
“This War would have never started if I were President! Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end. That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done,” Trump said.
