Trump and Zelenskyy wrap up call a day after talks with Russia about possible ceasefire
The Hindu
Trump seeks ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Putin agrees to partial ceasefire but refuses full 30-day ceasefire.
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke for about an hour Wednesday (March 19, 2025) morning, the U.S. leader said, a day after he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a social media post, Mr. Trump said the call was to “align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs” as he seeks to bring about a ceasefire between the two countries.
“We are very much on track,” Mr. Trump added, saying he asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz to provide more details on the conversation in a forthcoming statement.
Mr. Trump spoke Tuesday with Putin about a possible partial ceasefire. Putin agreed not to target energy infrastructure but refused to back a full 30-day ceasefire.
Mr. Zelenskyy said earlier that a vow by Mr. Putin not to attack energy infrastructure was “very much at odds with reality” following an overnight barrage of drone strikes across the country.
Hours before Mr. Zelenskyy spoke with Mr. Trump, the Ukrainian leader said he expected to hear more about the American leader’s Tuesday phone call with Mr. Putin about the proposed limited ceasefire and to discuss the next steps to be taken.
“Even last night, after Putin’s conversation with ... Trump, when Putin said that he was allegedly giving orders to stop strikes on Ukrainian energy, there were 150 drones launched overnight, including on energy facilities,” Mr. Zelenskyy said at a news conference in Helsinki with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
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