Trump says efforts for lasting Russia-Ukraine peace ‘on track’ after call with Zelenskyy
US President Donald Trump has said that US, Russia and Ukraine are very much on track as far as the efforts for a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine are concerned. Trump’s short statement, after his call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was read out by the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt also read out the detailed statement from US Secretary of Sate Marco Rubio and NSA Mike Waltz on Trump’s call with Zelenskyy. It said, “Today, President Donald J. Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a fantastic phone conversation. President Zelenskyy thanked President Trump for a productive start for the work of the Ukrainian and American teams in Jeddah on March 11th. The meeting of the senior officials from both nations significantly helped in moving toward ending the war.”
The statement further read, “President Zelenskyy thanked President Trump for the support of the United States, especially the Javelin missiles that President Trump was first to provide, and his efforts towards peace. The leaders agreed Ukraine and America will continue working together to bring about a real end to the war, and that lasting peace under President Trump’s leadership can be achieved.”
President Trump also fully briefed President Zelenskyy on his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the key issues discussed. They reviewed the situation in Kursk and agreed to share information closely between their defence staffs as the battlefield situation evolved. President Zelenskyy asked for additional air defence systems to protect his civilians, particularly Patriot missile systems, President Trump agreed to work with him to find what was available particularly in Europe.
The statement also added, “The two leaders also agreed on a partial ceasefire against energy. Technical teams will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to discuss broadening the ceasefire to the Black Sea on the way to a full ceasefire. They agreed this could be the first step toward the full end of the war and ensuring security. President Zelenskyy was grateful for the President’s leadership in this effort and reiterated his willingness to adopt a full ceasefire.”
The two leaders agreed that all parties must continue the effort to make a ceasefire work and instructed their teams to move ahead with the technical issues related to implementing and broadening the partial ceasefire. The Presidents instructed their advisors and representatives to carry out this work as quickly as possible. The Presidents emphasised that in further meetings, the teams can agree on all necessary aspects of advancing toward lasting peace and security.
