Zelenskyy and European leaders hold phone call with Trump
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with four European leaders, has spoken on the phone with US President Donald Trump.
Source: Serhii Nikiforov, spokesman for the Ukrainian president, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda; Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)
Details: Nikiforov said French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also took part in the conversation.
Zelenskyy said in a social media post that the leaders had discussed the meeting in Istanbul during the call.
Quote: "Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps to bring real peace, and it is important that the world holds a strong stance.
Our position – if the Russians reject a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings, tough sanctions must follow. Pressure on Russia must be maintained until Russia is ready to end the war."
Background:
- Peace talks between delegations from Ukraine and the Russian Federation are continuing in Istanbul, Türkiye. The Russians have put forward a number of unacceptable conditions.
- Sky News has reported, citing a source in Ukrainian diplomatic circles, that Russia put forward demands that are unrealistic and go far beyond what was previously discussed.
- The source said that Russia's demands include the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from its own territories before a ceasefire can be declared.
- The source also noted that there were other unacceptable demands.
- It was reported earlier that for the first time in more than three years, direct talks between Russia and Ukraine had begun in Istanbul.
- Russia was reported to have sent a low-level delegation led by Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky to the talks.
- The media also reported that the Russian delegation in Istanbul demanded that US representatives not be present at the talks with the Ukrainian side.
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