Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an exclusive interview with NBC News, spoke about his readiness to join a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, should the negotiations take place in Budapest.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Zelensky Emphasized the Importance of Ukraine’s Presence
“If we truly aspire to a just and lasting peace, the presence of both sides of this tragedy is necessary. How can any agreements be made without us – about us?” – noted Zelensky.
According to the president, during his meeting with Donald Trump on October 17 in Washington, he informed his American counterpart of his willingness to join negotiations with Putin. Zelensky emphasized that the issue of peace cannot be resolved without Ukraine’s participation.
The president also stressed the need to increase pressure on Russia, comparing the situation to the actions of the U.S. regarding Hamas in the recent settlement in the Middle East. According to Zelensky, Putin is an even more dangerous opponent, as his army is the second largest in the world.
Trump and Putin’s Phone Call and Russia’s Demands
Recently, media reported on a phone call between Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump that took place on October 16. According to reports, Putin expressed a demand for Ukraine to completely abandon the Donetsk region, calling it a key condition for halting hostilities.
According to sources, the Russian leader allegedly agreed to cede part of the occupied territories in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in return. As noted by the Washington Post, this position was less extensive compared to previous demands made during negotiations in Alaska. Some representatives of the White House viewed this change in demands as a certain progress in the negotiations.
At the same time, military expert Yan Matveyev believes that the Washington Post’s publications misinterpreted Putin’s words. In his opinion, the Russian leader continues to insist on the complete occupation of the Donetsk region in exchange for Russia’s abandonment of claims to the territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which Moscow does not control.
After a two-hour phone call, Trump and Putin agreed to hold a personal meeting in Budapest.
On October 17, Donald Trump met with Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. The main topic of discussion was the supply of weapons to Ukraine, including the possible sale of Tomahawk cruise missiles. According to Axios, Trump denied Zelensky’s request for these missiles, emphasizing diplomatic solutions to the conflict. Zelensky himself noted that “Trump did not say ‘no,’ but he also did not say ‘yes’ regarding the transfer of Tomahawks.”