President Trump planned to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday after the Eastern European leader called for more details about a temporary ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and Russia.
The call with Mr. Zelenskyy was to come 24 hours after Mr. Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow didn’t accept a 30-day full ceasefire proposed by Mr. Trump but agreed to a temporary pause in attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and energy facilities.
Both the White House and Mr. Zelenskyy confirmed the call, which the White House said was to take place Wednesday morning.
“We will discuss the details of the next steps with him,” Mr. Zelenskyy said. “For us, the red line is the recognition of the Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories as Russian. We will not go for it.”
Mr. Zelenskyy said Russia continues to hit Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite the U.S. saying Mr. Putin agreed to lay off those targets.
On Tuesday night, Russia launched drone strikes that targeted civilian areas and damaged a hospital in Ukraine.
“We will support any proposals that lead to a sustainable, just peace. But we must understand what is at stake. What are the details? And I hope to God that we know all these details, so that the partners talk to us. Because there are two sides in this war — Russia and Ukraine.
Trying to negotiate without Ukraine, in my view, will not be productive,” Mr. Zelenskyy continued.
The White House released a statement Tuesday saying Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin agreed that “the movement toward peace” should begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire as well as a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea followed by a “full ceasefire and permanent peace.”
The statement added, “These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East.”
On Truth Social, Mr. Trump described the conversation with his Russian counterpart as “good and productive.”
“Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end,” Mr. Trump wrote. “That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!”
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• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.