Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday urged a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid to bring an end to the ongoing war.
Zelensky’s appeal came a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump praised discussions between his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin in Moscow, describing them as “highly productive.”
Zelensky said later that he had spoken by phone with Trump, who said he could meet with Putin “very soon,” and that European leaders had been on the call.
“We in Ukraine have repeatedly said that finding real solutions can be truly effective at the level of leaders,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
“It is necessary to determine the timing for such a format and the range of issues to be addressed,” he added.
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The Ukrainian leader said Thursday morning that he had planned to hold “several” conversations throughout the course of the day including with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as well as French and Italian officials.
“There will also be communication at the level of national security advisors.
“The main thing is for Russia, which started this war, to take real steps to end its aggression,” Zelensky added.