U.S. President Donald Trump announced a "very good" hour-long phone call with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, following discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin about a partial ceasefire focused on energy and infrastructure in Ukraine. Trump described the talks as aligning Russian and Ukrainian interests, stating: "We are very much on track."
The conversation builds on Trump's Tuesday call with Putin, where the two leaders reportedly agreed to prioritize stabilizing Ukraine through economic and humanitarian measures. Zelenskyy, however, emphasized Ukraine's need to directly participate in negotiations: "Without Ukraine's involvement… reaching an agreement is futile," he asserted.
The diplomatic push comes amid ongoing tensions: Ukrainian and Russian forces exchanged aerial attacks overnight, underscoring the fragile security situation. While Trump promised further details "will be put out shortly," analysts caution that sustained de-escalation will require clearer frameworks for regional cooperation.
