Donald Trump urged an immediate ceasefire and the start of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the ongoing war
The United States (U.S.) President-elect – Donald Trump urged an immediate ceasefire and the start of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the ongoing war, which he described as “madness”.
His remarks came after he met the President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris, their first face-to-face discussion since Trump’s election victory last month. The meeting took place at Elysee Palace in the presence of the President of France – Emmanuel Macron. Trump had travelled to Paris for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Trump, who has pledged to broker peace in the conflict, shared his views on his social media platform Truth Social, stating, “Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting.”
Zelenskyy rejected the idea of a ceasefire agreement without concrete assurances, warning it could be reignited. They discussed important issues on the battlefield and in the global situation, from our frontlines to North Korea. Zelenskyy stated the need of a just and enduring peace—one that the Russians will not be able to destroy in a few years, as they have done repeatedly in the past.
Kremlin Spokesman – Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump’s comments, reiterating Russia’s openness to negotiations but under specific conditions. Peskov emphasized that talks must build on the preliminary agreements reached in Istanbul in 2022 and reflect current realities on the battlefield, where Russian forces have recently advanced. He said that Putin had said repeatedly that a preliminary agreement reached between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in the first weeks of the war at talks in Istanbul, which was never implemented, could serve as the basis for future talks.
Speaking on the occasion, Peskov said, “Our position on Ukraine is well known. The conditions for an immediate stop to hostilities were set out by President Putin in his speech to the Russian Foreign Ministry in June of this year. It is important to recall that it was Ukraine that refused and continues to refuse negotiations.”
Peskov said that Zelenskyy has banned contact with the Russian leadership through a special decree, which would have to be revoked if talks were to proceed.
For a peace deal, Ukraine must not join the NATO and Russia should be left fully in control of four Ukrainian regions his troops partially control at the moment for a peace deal to be done.
