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Zelenskyy Seeks Trump’s Understanding on Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal
Volodymyr Zelenskyy conveyed his aspiration that the current phase of intense diplomacy and strategic maneuvers involving Russia and Ukraine could culminate in Donald Trump acknowledging Vladimir Putin as the primary impediment to a viable peace agreement. Zelenskyy’s diplomatic efforts are focused on achieving a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Zelenskyy’s Appeal to Trump
“Trump needs to believe that Putin actually lies. And we should do our part. Sensibly approach this issue, to show that it’s not us that is slowing down the process,” stated Zelenskyy in a discussion with a select group of journalists, including representatives from the Guardian, at his office located in the presidential administration complex in Kyiv.
Anticipated Meeting in Turkey
Zelenskyy affirmed his plans to travel to Turkey on Thursday, regardless of Putin’s participation in potential discussions.
Readiness for Talks
Zelenskyy indicated that he had scheduled a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara. He also expressed his willingness to travel to Istanbul promptly if the Russian leader were to attend. “If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war,” he commented on Tuesday.
Previously, subsequent to Putin’s unexpected late-night address advocating for direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul, Zelenskyy communicated his intention to personally await Putin’s arrival in Turkey on Thursday.
Trump’s Potential Involvement
Trump, while visiting Saudi Arabia, alluded to the possibility of a trilateral meeting involving Putin and Zelenskyy. He remarked on Monday: “I believe the two leaders are going to be there. I was thinking about flying over.”
Hopes for Trump’s Mediation
Zelenskyy voiced his hope that Trump would indeed meet him in Turkey. “If Trump travels, it will push Putin also to travel,” he stated. “Trump can really help. It’s the situation where the US being present can give important guarantees.”
- Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, also mentioned the prospect of a three-way summit.
- “This could be a really great meeting … We hope that President Putin will also come, and then President Trump will be there,” he conveyed to Fox News.
- Kellogg, alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff, are also reportedly expected in Turkey.
Kremlin’s Response
However, there is limited indication of Putin’s willingness to travel. While he has not explicitly dismissed the possibility, remarks from the Kremlin suggest that Russia will instead dispatch a lower-level delegation to Istanbul.
“Our delegation will be there and will wait for the Ukrainian side,” communicated Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, on Tuesday evening. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Russia intends to utilize any discussions to confront the “root causes” of the conflict from Moscow’s perspective. This includes the “denazification” of Ukraine and the formal incorporation of annexed territories into Russia, signaling that the rhetoric between the two parties remains significantly divergent.
Ceasefire Essential for Meaningful Dialogue
Zelenskyy emphasized his belief that without a ceasefire agreement reached by the leaders, initiating lower-level negotiations would be futile.
“I want you to understand why I would meet with Putin. We are not going to be able to agree on everything now. It’s impossible. We have different approaches to life, different worldviews. But we have to somehow find a way to end the war,” he explained. Zelenskyy stated that if he and Putin could concur on a ceasefire, subsequent groups would convene to begin delineating the specifics of future actions.
He cited previous discussions in Saudi Arabia, where American representatives acted as intermediaries between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, and a lasting full ceasefire could not be attained. “Without signals from the leaders, or a meeting of the leaders, this format doesn’t work,” he commented.
However, when questioned, he did not dismiss the possibility of sending a lower-level delegation to Istanbul for discussions. “I don’t know. I am being honest. Maybe the Americans, maybe someone will really want to launch this format again. I dont know,” he said.
Diplomatic Efforts and Potential Sanctions
The diplomatic back-and-forth commenced with a visit to Kyiv by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Poland on Saturday, symbolically timed to coincide with the day following a significant military parade in Moscow, commemorating 80 years since the Soviet victory in the Second World War. After conversations with Trump via telephone, the four European leaders issued an ultimatum to Putin, demanding that he commit to a 30-day ceasefire by Monday or face additional sanctions. Putin declined the ultimatum, instead proposing the Istanbul talks without a ceasefire.
If no agreements are reached during the meetings in Turkey this week, the critical question remains whether the Europeans can secure Trump’s support for intensifying pressure on Moscow. Zelenskyy indicated his hope that new sanctions would soon be considered if the Thursday meetings prove unproductive.
“I believe that President Trump is not against imposing sanctions … and I believe that there is political will in Congress to vote for these sanctions. I believe the Americans are very close to imposing these sanctions,” he stated. He further mentioned that consultations would transpire in the coming days – “if you’ll allow me, I won’t say where or when” – during which Europeans would be briefed on imminent US sanctions plans.
Navigating US Relations
The Ukrainian president has been undertaking a delicate diplomatic balancing act in recent weeks as Kyiv endeavors to maintain positive relations with the Trump administration. Following the unsuccessful White House meeting in late February, Zelenskyy appears to have experienced some success in improving the relationship, culminating in a constructive meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral in the Vatican last month.
When asked about the content of his discussions with Trump to regain his support, Zelenskyy chose not to provide a specific answer: “I won’t tell you. I know the reasons; in my opinion, I know why we had such a good talk. But I can’t say, I just can’t.”
British and French officials have maintained consistent communication with Ukrainian counterparts since the White House incident, offering guidance on how to restore relations with the US administration.
European Cooperation
Zelenskyy highlighted that the interaction with European allies has been more frequent and substantive than ever before. He also mentioned that French President Emmanuel Macron is among the “two or three” leaders with whom he engages regularly via telephone. “He has a very creative approach … He’s a risk-taker. And risk-takers can be different kinds of people, but they are all focused on results. They don’t put themselves above everything else,” Zelenskyy stated.
Upcoming Engagements
Following his visit to Turkey, Zelenskyy is scheduled to attend a meeting of European politicians in Albania on Friday. Afterward, he may travel to Rome, suggesting that he could attend the inaugural mass of the new pope, Leo XIV, following a positive phone call earlier this week.
“I think it could happen on Sunday,” Zelenskyy stated. “If it works out. We don’t know what this week will bring. We have come to the moment when we don’t know what will happen tomorrow.”