Trump and Zelensky Discuss Ceasefire Efforts Amid Continued Tensions with Russia

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump stated he had a “very good” phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, reaffirming that efforts to secure a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia are still on track, despite no agreement being reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin so far.

Trump mentioned that the conversation, which lasted about an hour, largely focused on aligning the demands and needs of both Russia and Ukraine following his recent talks with Putin. The call was seen as the first between Trump and Zelensky since a heated televised dispute in the Oval Office roughly two and a half weeks ago, which temporarily halted U.S. aid to Ukraine.

Zelensky later agreed to a U.S. plan for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire with Russia, as well as a deal that would grant Washington preferential access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. Despite this, Putin refused to agree to a full ceasefire, demanding that Western aid to Ukraine cease, that Ukraine stop rearming, and halt mandatory military mobilization.

Both Ukraine and Russia claimed they supported a temporary truce regarding energy infrastructure. However, each side accused the other of violating the halt in attacks. Ukraine’s defense ministry reported overnight missile and drone strikes from Russia, killing one person and damaging two hospitals.

Zelensky condemned Putin’s actions, stating that the Russian leader had effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire. Additionally, Ukraine’s national railway service reported that Russian missile strikes hit railway energy infrastructure in central Ukraine.

Russia, on the other hand, claimed that a “deliberate” Ukrainian attack on an oil depot in southern Russia aimed to derail Trump’s efforts to mediate an end to the conflict.

Despite the tensions, Moscow and Kyiv managed to exchange 372 prisoners in what was described as a goodwill gesture.

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In Washington, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced that technical talks aimed at reaching a potential deal to end the war would begin in Saudi Arabia on Monday. He predicted that a ceasefire agreement could be reached “within a couple of weeks.” Witkoff also indicated that a meeting between Trump and Putin in Saudi Arabia was “likely,” though no timeline was provided.

The U.S. and Russia remain at odds over the specifics of the agreement, with Moscow insisting it only pertains to energy infrastructure, while U.S. officials maintain it covers other critical infrastructure as well.