Zelenskyy explains Trump's message on ending Ukraine war
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump's call to end the war in Ukraine focuses on starting the process by stopping the armies along the current front line, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview with NBC News.
"I understand the signal and the message from the President. So, I understand that we have to finish this war and begin this finishing from the place where soldiers stay — from the contact line, as I understood correctly," Zelenksyy said.
The President noted that he agrees that to stop the war and enable urgent diplomacy, both sides must halt where they currently stand, without making any additional concessions to Russia.
"If we want to stop this war and go to peace negotiations urgently and in a diplomatic way, we need to stay where we are, not to give anything additional to Putin, because he wants... He's a terrorist," Zelenskyy said.
He expressed readiness for meetings in any format and emphasized that negotiations must take place in a calm environment, without shelling.
The President concluded that they needed to stand where they were and begin any format, as he had said, whether two- or three-party, but that they must talk. He added that peace talks should take place in a quiet, stable situation, not under drone and missile strikes, and that a ceasefire must come first.
Trump's call
On Friday, October 17, Donald Trump met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Afterward, he posted a message urging both sides to stop where their forces are currently positioned and to reach a peace agreement.
"Let both claim Victory, let History decide! No more shooting, no more Death, no more vast and unsustainable sums of money spent. This is a War that would have never started if I were President. Thousands of people are being slaughtered each and every week — NO MORE, GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILIES IN PEACE!" Trump wrote.
A few hours later, during a press interaction, Trump again stressed that the sides should halt along the front line.
Yesterday, on October 18, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump's patience is running out and that Ukraine and Russia need to acknowledge the realities on the ground.
