US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held an hour-long phone conversation on Wednesday, which both sides described as positive and constructive. The call comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to establish a partial ceasefire in Ukraine, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rejection of a broader peace proposal.
Zelensky expressed optimism after the discussion, stating that “lasting peace can be achieved this year” under Trump’s leadership. The conversation marked the first direct communication between the two leaders since their tense White House meeting last month. Their teams have since met in Saudi Arabia, where they negotiated a proposed 30-day ceasefire, a plan backed by both Ukraine and the US but rejected by Putin.
During the call, Zelensky suggested that a limited ceasefire could be implemented, focusing on halting strikes on energy infrastructure, railways, and ports. However, he warned that Ukraine would retaliate if Moscow violated the agreement.
“I understand that until we agree [with Russia]… everything will fly,” Zelensky said, referring to ongoing drone and missile attacks.
Trump later wrote on his Truth Social platform that the conversation aimed to “align Ukraine and Russia in terms of their requests and needs” and that ceasefire efforts were progressing.
One of the most significant topics of discussion was the potential U.S. role in Ukraine’s nuclear power sector. The White House confirmed that possible American ownership of Ukraine’s nuclear plants was raised, though Zelensky later clarified that the discussion focused only on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia facility.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Trump had pledged to assist Ukraine in securing additional air defense systems, particularly from European allies. Rubio also emphasised that US ownership of nuclear plants could provide a safeguard for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations, both Russia and Ukraine launched fresh attacks on Wednesday. Ukraine accused Russia of targeting hospitals, while Russian officials reported a Ukrainian drone strike on an **oil depot in Krasnodar.
However, in a rare moment of cooperation, the two sides exchanged 175 prisoners of war (POWs) each. Zelensky described the swap as “one of the largest,” noting that Russia included an additional 22 severely wounded soldiers in the exchange.
On Tuesday, Trump held a separate call with President Putin, during which the Russian leader agreed to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. However, Putin made it clear that a full ceasefire would only be possible if Western nations stopped military aid to Ukraine—a demand that Kyiv’s European allies have repeatedly rejected.
Following the Trump-Zelensky call, technical teams from both nations are set to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to continue negotiations. Meanwhile, US-Ukraine relations appear to be improving after last month’s White House tensions, which briefly led to the suspension of US military aid and intelligence sharing.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Ukraine remains on high alert, with both sides skeptical about the possibility of a lasting peace deal while hostilities persist on the battlefield.
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