Trump and Zelenskyy Discuss Ceasefire Efforts After Putin Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke for an hour on Wednesday, following Trump’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous day. Trump described the discussion as an effort to align Russia and Ukraine’s demands in the pursuit of a ceasefire. However, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism, citing overnight Russian drone attacks despite Putin’s supposed pledge to halt strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Russia plan to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the ceasefire framework.
Ceasefire Talks: Quick Look
- Trump and Zelenskyy discuss ceasefire efforts a day after Trump’s phone call with Putin.
- Zelenskyy remains skeptical, noting 150 Russian drone strikes on Ukraine after Putin’s pledge.
- Russia claims Ukraine is not reciprocating the ceasefire, accusing Kyiv of attacking energy sites.
- U.S. and Russia to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the ceasefire proposal; unclear if Ukraine is invited.
- Zelenskyy rejects Putin’s condition to halt Western military aid to Ukraine.
- Ukraine and Russia trade accusations over attacks on energy infrastructure.
- Kyiv insists on territorial integrity, refusing to recognize occupied territories as Russian.
Trump and Zelenskyy Discuss Ceasefire Efforts as Doubts Linger
Trump Pushes for a Ceasefire, but Ukraine Remains Wary
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on Wednesday, discussing efforts to broker a partial ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Trump, in a social media post, described the call as an attempt to align both sides’ demands and reaffirmed that negotiations were “on track.”
“We are very much on track,” Trump stated, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz would provide further details soon.
However, Zelenskyy voiced serious doubts about Russia’s intentions. Speaking in Helsinki alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb, he pointed to fresh Russian drone attacks that hit energy facilities and infrastructure, contradicting Putin’s supposed commitment to halt such strikes.
“Putin’s words are very different from reality,” Zelenskyy said.
Russia Claims Ukraine Isn’t Cooperating
The Kremlin responded by insisting that Russia had halted its attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities following Putin’s call with Trump. However, Russian officials accused Ukraine of launching fresh attacks on Russian energy sites, including an oil pumping station near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium in southern Russia.
“Unfortunately, we see that for now there is no reciprocity on the part of the Kyiv regime,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and Russia have agreed to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the ceasefire terms. However, it remains unclear whether Ukrainian officials will be included in the negotiations.
Ukraine and Russia Exchange Accusations Over New Attacks
Hours after Trump and Putin’s phone call, air raid sirens sounded across Kyiv, with explosions reported in several Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian officials said that Russian drone strikes hit two hospitals, railway infrastructure, and over 20 residential homes.
Russia, in turn, accused Ukraine of orchestrating “a provocation” aimed at undermining Trump’s ceasefire initiative. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Kyiv targeted key oil infrastructure in southern Russia just hours after the Putin-Trump talks.
“It is absolutely clear that we are talking about yet another provocation by the Kyiv regime, aimed at derailing the peace initiatives of the U.S. president,” Russia’s Defense Ministry stated.
Zelenskyy: Ukraine Won’t Accept Putin’s Terms
Zelenskyy firmly rejected Putin’s key condition that Ukraine cease receiving Western military aid. He emphasized that cutting off arms and intelligence support would leave Ukrainian civilians vulnerable to further Russian attacks.
“I don’t think anybody should make any concessions in terms of helping Ukraine, but rather, assistance should be increased,” he stated.
Zelenskyy also reiterated Ukraine’s red line—refusing to cede any occupied territories to Russia as part of a peace deal.
“For us, the red line is the recognition of the Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories as Russian. We will not go for it,” he declared.
What’s Next?
- The U.S. and Russia will hold talks in Saudi Arabia to explore the ceasefire framework, but Ukraine’s participation remains uncertain.
- Russia may demand further Ukrainian concessions, while Kyiv continues to push for more Western aid.
- Ukraine and Russia’s continued military strikes suggest that a full ceasefire remains unlikely in the near future.
As Trump pushes to broker peace before the 2026 midterms, Zelenskyy remains skeptical, and Putin appears unwilling to compromise without securing significant concessions from Ukraine.
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