U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed a one-hour telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, focusing on ceasefire efforts amid the ongoing war. The discussion followed Trump’s recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they explored ways to align Russia and Ukraine’s requests for a potential truce.
Trump stated that the conversation with Zelenskyy built upon his prior discussion with Putin in an effort to coordinate both nations’ positions. He announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz would provide an official statement summarizing the key points discussed.
Zelenskyy’s response to the conversation reflects skepticism, particularly regarding Putin’s recent pledge to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Despite these assurances, Ukraine reported 150 overnight Russian drone strikes targeting its energy facilities.
Tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy have escalated in recent weeks, particularly during a meeting on March 1 involving the U.S. and the U.K., which aimed to finalize a rare earth minerals deal granting the U.S. access to Ukrainian resources. Trump, frustrated with the negotiations, accused Zelenskyy of being uncooperative and abruptly canceled the agreement.
During the exchange, Trump reportedly warned Zelenskyy that his approach risked escalating the conflict, accusing him of obstructing peace by refusing to trust Putin. Zelenskyy countered by citing Russia’s history of violating past agreements, but Trump dismissed these concerns, stating that Putin had never broken a deal with him personally.
