Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with former U.S. President Donald Trump for about an hour to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine, just hours after Trump had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I had a meaningful conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. We have long discussed the prospects for peace and our willingness to cooperate at the working level,” Zelensky wrote on social media on February 12.
The call came shortly after Trump’s discussion with Putin. According to Zelensky, Trump shared details of his conversation with the Russian leader.
In his nightly address, Zelensky said the call covered various topics, including diplomacy, economics, and military matters. “We believe the United States has the strength to join us and our partners in pushing Russia and President Putin toward peace,” Zelensky emphasized.
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, stated that the Ukrainian president made it clear to Trump that any resolution to the conflict must be a "just peace," and Kyiv would not compromise on its independence, territorial integrity, or sovereignty. Yermak also said both leaders agreed to "immediately begin cooperation at the working level," with senior officials from both countries set to hold talks.
He added that Ukrainian and U.S. officials would engage daily, and Zelensky’s team plans to meet American representatives at the Munich Security Conference on February 14. Efforts are also underway to arrange a one-on-one meeting between Zelensky and Trump, which Yermak hopes will happen soon.
Trump described his call with Zelensky as “very good,” stating that they discussed the Ukraine conflict and the upcoming meetings between their representatives in Munich. He noted that, like Putin, Zelensky also seeks peace.
“It’s time to end this ridiculous war that has caused unnecessary death and destruction on a massive scale,” Trump wrote on social media.
Earlier, speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump expressed skepticism about Ukraine joining NATO and doubted Kyiv’s ability to reclaim all its lost territory.
During his 90-minute call with Putin, Trump and the Russian president discussed peace negotiations to end the Ukraine conflict. Both leaders reportedly extended invitations to visit each other’s countries, with Trump saying they plan to meet “in the near future,” possibly in Saudi Arabia.
(Sources: AFP, Reuters)
