“Pressure Russia with Sanctions”: Zelenskyy Comments on Talks with Trump and EU Leaders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shared details of his recent conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and several European leaders, Orda.kz reports.

Following protracted negotiations in Istanbul, Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The U.S. leader has repeatedly stated that only a personal conversation between him and Putin could produce real progress toward resolving the Russia–Ukraine conflict.

After the call with Putin, Trump expressed confidence that Moscow is not deliberately stalling and said he believes a peaceful resolution is possible. However, he described Zelenskyy as “not the easiest counterpart.”

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy confirmed he had spoken with Trump and European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, Alexander Stubb, and Ursula von der Leyen.

I told Trump that Ukraine is ready for a full and unconditional ceasefire. But if the Russians are not prepared to stop the killing, sanctions must be intensified. Only pressure on Russia will push its regime toward peace. That’s obvious to everyone. I reaffirm that Ukraine is ready for direct negotiations with Russia — in any format and on any platform: Türkiye, the Vatican, Switzerland. The result is what matters,Zelenskyy stated. 

The Ukrainian president also stressed the importance of continued U.S. engagement in the peace process.

If Russia does not stop the killing, does not release prisoners and hostages, and if Putin continues to make unrealistic demands, it will mean that Russia is dragging out the war. In that case, Europe, America, and the world must respond with additional sanctions. Russia started this war — it must end it. And we are always ready for peace,he added. 

Meanwhile, Donald Trump reiterated his stance that the Ukraine conflict is “not his war."

Trump is also considering increasing arms deliveries to Kyiv but remains committed to a peaceful resolution.
He believes the U.S. should not have been involved in the war, describing it as Europe’s problem, not America’s.

Trump also plans to evaluate in the coming weeks whether Ukraine is doing enough to end the war and reaffirmed that U.S. troops would not fight in Ukraine.

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