Three-step plan: Zelenskyy tells how Trump can stop Putin
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: president.gov.ua)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined three key steps he believes could help US President Donald Trump halt Russian aggression and ensure lasting peace for Ukraine.
Read also: Zelenskyy: Many compromises made, but Russia shows no desire for peace
Three-step plan
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that the US president should act independently of Moscow. His top priority is providing Ukraine with strong security guarantees.
"I think so… He has to give us security guarantees, strong security guarantees, without dialogue with Putin. Because these are security guarantees of the President of the United States," Zelenskyy said.
The second step is to implement a plan to rebuild Ukraine, which the president called a necessary condition for returning to a peaceful life.
"Give us the package of reconstruction of Ukraine. It will be the second step—that we will renovate, and that will mean the peace will come," he said.
The next stage involves directly demanding that Moscow stop its attacks.
"To call Putin and say: 'Look, you have to stop where you are now. We have to freeze the conflict now, and then we will meet trilaterally at the level of leaders, and we will manage how to finish this war'," Zelenskyy outlined.
Ultimatum and 'total sanctions'
If Russian leader Vladimir Putin refuses to meet these conditions, the US should step up support for Ukraine and impose unprecedented restrictions on the aggressor, including a full blockade of Russia's energy sector.
"If Putin will say 'no'—President Trump has to give us everything what we need to save us and to defend us, and to stay strong. He can put sanctions on all their energy, all nuclear energy," Zelenskyy said.
He also urged Western partners to personally pressure Russia's elites, including expelling their relatives living or studying in democratic countries.
Europe must back Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously noted that Europe's lack of a unified position on ending the war only benefits Russia.
He stressed that Ukraine will not make territorial concessions, as the greatest compromise Kyiv is offering is its willingness to negotiate, provided there are strong security guarantees.
Meanwhile, Poland has emphasized that the EU must take an active role in future talks with Russia to prevent decisions from being made behind Ukraine's back.
This position is also supported by Estonia and Latvia, which call for Europe to reclaim a leadership role in ensuring regional stability and increasing pressure on the Kremlin.
