Zelenskyy Ready to End War with Russia Before Meeting Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his commitment to doing “whatever it takes” to bring an end to the ongoing conflict with Russia ahead of his Sunday meeting with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
In the lead-up to this significant meeting, Russian forces unleashed an intense wave of attacks, executing over 2,100 drone strikes, nearly 800 guided airstrikes, and 94 missile strikes, according to Ukrainian officials.
“Ukraine didn’t start this war. Russia did,” Zelenskyy remarked in a post on Saturday, noting that he last communicated directly with Trump on October 17. He mentioned that Ukraine had supported Trump’s ceasefire proposal and had been open to various compromises.
“Ukraine is ready to do whatever is necessary to put an end to this war. Our main focus is peace. Being strong at the negotiating table is essential,” he added.
In a single day, Saturday, Russia launched 500 drones and 400 missiles, resulting in power outages in parts of Kiev, the Ukrainian capital.
Reports indicate that at least one person lost their life and 27 others were injured in this attack.
On another front, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning, asserting that the war would continue until Ukraine capitulates to all of Russia’s demands.
“If Ukraine isn’t interested in resolving matters peacefully, then Russia will meet its objectives through military means,” Putin stated.
Russia’s demands include Ukraine relinquishing control over the entire Donbas region, which contains crucial cities held by Kiev, while much of the area remains under Russian control.
Ukraine is hesitant to concede any territory not captured on the battlefield, viewing its hold in the Donbas as vital to national security. There’s a real concern that losing this territory could enable Russia to advance further into Ukraine during future offensives.
Ukrainian negotiators have spent weeks working with Trump’s team to revise a Russia-friendly 28-point peace proposal into a more balanced 20-point plan.
Zelenskyy reported that this 20-point plan is about 90% complete, but significant issues remain unresolved, particularly concerning territorial claims, the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and overall security considerations.
“It’s critical that Russia refrains from obstructing this diplomatic effort and genuinely commits to ending the war,” he stated.
Zelenskyy also mentioned that if Russia continues to be uncooperative, fresher pressure on them will be necessary. “The world possesses all the tools needed to exert this pressure effectively and secure peace,” he remarked last week.
The ongoing conflict marks its fourth anniversary in February, making it one of Trump’s primary foreign policy objectives to put an end to this brutal war.
In a recent interview, Trump conveyed a sense of hope that productive discussions could arise from his meeting with Zelenskyy. “I think there’s a fair chance,” Trump mentioned. “Both Ukrainian officials and Russia seem interested. Yet it always feels like when one side is ready, the other hesitates.”
