In his first reaction, Trump says what Zelensky and Putin will do after the Kiev leader's unprecedented gesture to end the war
Donald Trump said on Thursday, in his first reaction, that a face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, would be “great”, while stressing that the two countries would have to make compromises, writes AFP.
“I'm glad they're discussing a meeting. I think we have some merit in that as well. (…) I think it would be great for them to meet,” the American president said in the Oval Office of the White House.
Volodymyr Zelensky proposed, earlier on Thursday, in an open letter, a private meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin dryly replied that “Zelensky can come to Moscow at any time,” according to statements made by Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman.
Donald Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine on the first day of his return to the White House, but since then he has not been able to reduce the differences between Kiev and Moscow, even if he invited Putin to American soil last summer in Alaska.
“Both will make compromises, I suggested these compromises and, you know, we really have a role in this,” the American president said in his comments made on Thursday at the White House, on the sidelines of an event dedicated to the coal industry.
Zelensky's letter
Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a meeting with Vladimir Putin in an open letter on Thursday, while also suggesting a “complete truce” during negotiations to end the war.
“Ukraine proposes an end to this war through direct contact between you and us. I propose a meeting,” Zelensky said in this letter addressed to “the president of the Russian Federation.”
“I propose to set a clear date for this meeting,” the Kiev leader wrote.
Zelenskiy added that Ukraine is “prepared for a full truce during the negotiations”, which he believes should involve Europe and the United States.
Kiev has repeatedly proposed an extended truce to favor peace negotiations. But Moscow has consistently rejected this idea, arguing that this would allow the Ukrainian army to strengthen its positions, AFP and Agerpres noted.
“Today's front line is the line where diplomacy must begin,” wrote the Ukrainian president, who rarely addressed his Russian counterpart directly. Zelenskiy has proposed a direct meeting in the past, but this is the first time he has addressed a direct letter to Putin.
The Russian president has said in the past that he would be ready for a meeting with Zelenskiy only after a peace deal is finalized.
Putin, who was wrapping up his meeting with foreign media in St. Petersburg when the letter was published, did not immediately react.
