Donald Trump had a “very good” call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the White House said – as US officials claim “we have never been closer to peace” in Ukraine.
A statement about the one-hour phone call said American ownership of Ukraine’s energy network was discussed, and that Mr Trump also agreed to “help locate” additional air defence support in Europe after a request from the Ukrainian leader.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters further talks will take place in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, and the US will continue intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
She added that Mr Trump also agreed to work to ensure missing Ukrainian children are returned home, and both parties had agreed to a temporary 30-day ceasefire involving attacks against energy facilities.
Ms Leavitt also quoted the US president as saying American firms “could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise”.
Ahead of the call, Mr Zelenskyy and Russian officials accused each other of violating a 30-day pause on striking energy targets – despite the US president’s talk with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
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The White House statement added that Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy also reviewed the situation in Kursk and agreed to share information closely.
The presidents instructed their teams to move ahead with the details of implementing a partial ceasefire, with discussions to include expanding any ceasefire to the Black Sea.
“We have never been closer to peace,” Ms Leavitt added.
Zelenskyy: ‘No pressure’ from Trump in call
In comments later on Wednesday, Mr Zelenskyy said that Mr Trump understands that Ukraine will not recognise occupied land as Russian and that he would like the US president to visit Ukraine – adding that “it would be helpful for Trump in his peace efforts”.
In an earlier statement, President Zelenskyy said the two leaders had “a positive, very substantive and frank conversation”.
Mr Zelenskyy echoed much of Mr Trump’s statement about what was decided between the countries, and said later that he “felt no pressure” from the US.
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“We agreed that Ukraine and the United States should continue working together to achieve a real end to the war and lasting peace. We believe that together with America, with President Trump, and under American leadership, lasting peace can be achieved this year,” Mr Zelenskyy said.
He added that Ukraine would “continue working to make this happen”, and said: “I stressed that Ukrainians want peace, which is why Ukraine accepted the proposal for an unconditional ceasefire.
“I highlighted the importance of President Trump’s concept of peace through strength. We agreed to maintain constant contact, including at the highest level and through our teams.”
The call marks the first time Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy have spoken since the disastrous confrontation in the White House last month.
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Mr Zelenskyy travelled to Washington expecting to sign a critical minerals deal but left early after he and Trump clashed in front of the world’s cameras.
On Tuesday, Mr Trump and Mr Putin held a phone call lasting about an hour and a half in which the Russian leader rejected a full 30-day ceasefire.
He agreed to not attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for 30 days. The two countries also swapped 175 prisoners each.
Read more:
A timeline of Trump and Zelenskyy’s relationship
What could be the future of Ukraine?
Sky’s correspondents react to Trump-Putin phone call
Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of energy strikes
Before the Ukrainian president’s call with Mr Trump, Mr Zelenskyy said Russia’s pledge not to strike energy facilities was “very much at odds with reality” after Russia launched an overnight barrage of drone strikes – some of which hit power facilities.
Russia has in turn accused Kyiv of attacking equipment near one of its pipelines at its energy facility in the Krasnodar region, bordering Crimea.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Unfortunately, we see that for now there is no reciprocity on the part of the Kyiv regime.”
