President Trump renewed his push for a month-long truce between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday, following a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said he remained “committed to securing Peace,” even after recently indicating he might step back from mediating between the two countries.
“Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue,” Trump, 78, posted to Truth Social. “The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations.”
“If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions,” he added.
Zelensky, 47, characterized their phone discussion on X as productive, noting that the two leaders applauded Ukraine’s legislature for ratifying a new bilateral agreement. The deal will allow the U.S. and Ukraine to equally share profits from upcoming mineral exploration and extraction on Ukrainian soil.
“We discussed the need for continued efforts to achieve peace, including concrete steps that could be taken,” Zelensky said. “President Trump inquired about the situation on the battlefield, and I provided a brief overview. I also informed him that Ukraine is ready for a 30-day ceasefire, starting even today.”
He added that Ukraine and the United States are “waiting for Russia to support this proposal.”
“I also reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to engage in talks in any format,” Zelensky said. “But for that, Russia must demonstrate the seriousness of its intentions to end the war, starting with a full unconditional ceasefire.”
Trump emphasized that the temporary ceasefire should lay the groundwork for a broader resolution to the conflict. He expressed optimism about how quickly an agreement could be reached and said he remained ready to assist.
“Thousands of young soldiers are dying on a weekly basis, and everybody should want it to STOP. I do, and the United States of America does, also,” he wrote. “As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be!”
This latest outreach from Trump comes not long after he openly criticized Russia’s unwillingness to pause its offensive or make meaningful gestures toward de-escalation, suggesting at the time that he might withdraw his administration’s involvement.
Zelensky said they agreed to stay in touch going forward.
“President Trump confirmed that he wants this war to end, is ready to help, and supports the need for a ceasefire,” he wrote on X.
The call between the two leaders coincided with the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany. Zelensky noted that both he and Trump recognized the occasion during their conversation.
Zelensky’s comment seemed to push back against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing claim that the invasion of Ukraine was partly motivated by a need to “denazify” the country — a narrative widely dismissed and denounced, particularly by Jewish leaders.
“I think that Putin and Russia (should not) disturb the blessed memory of the Holocaust. Don’t use [the word] ‘denazification’ — Ukraine isn’t a Nazist country,” Kyiv chief rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman told The Post Thursday. “73% of the country voted for Zelensky [in 2019], and he is Jewish.”
That same day, while Trump and Zelensky spoke, Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow to deepen their alliance.
According to a Kremlin statement, the two leaders signed an agreement reinforcing their “strategic partnership” and addressed major issues, including the war in Ukraine and relations with the United States.
{Matzav.com}