At the same time, Donald Trump commented on his network Truth Social. He told Zelensky and Putin that the killing must stop – a statement Trump has made repeatedly. “It’s time for a deal,” Trump wrote, “they should stop where they are,” he added. It is unclear whether Trump meant that there should be a ceasefire and then negotiations or whether he would grant Russia the territories it has occupied so far. The latter is supported by the fact that he added: “Let both claim victory, let history decide.”
Zelensky has repeatedly made it clear that he cannot cede any territories to Ukraine for constitutional reasons. Russia has conquered a large part of Donbass and currently appears to be able to hold these areas militarily.
However, Zelensky emphasized that he valued both the European allies and the USA and was committed to a common stance. Trump is needed because he is currently the one talking to Russia. “This is important,” said Zelensky. He also relied on security guarantees from the USA in the event of peace.
Zelenskyj informed his European partners that evening about his visit to US President Trump in the White House. It was a “constructive meeting,” said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius after a phone call between Zelensky and European heads of state and government, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The CDU politician and the European partners welcomed the “close transatlantic cooperation and underlined how urgent the efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine are.” After the phone call, Chancellor Merz said: “Now Ukraine needs a peace plan.”
The European partners have promised Zelenskyj that they will expand their support “in order to persuade Russia to engage in serious negotiations,” the statement continued. For example, they want to increase the pressure through sanctions and use frozen Russian state assets.
