Trump says Ukraine talks on track after ‘very good’ Zelensky call

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said his efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine are “on track” after having a “very good” call on March 19 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The call comes a day after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin told Mr Trump he would be willing to limit attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as a first step but

did not agree to the full ceasefire

for which the US was pushing. 

“Much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs,” Mr Trump said in a social media post, adding that the call lasted about one hour and that a fuller statement from the administration about the call would be released later. 

Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky held

a disastrous meeting

in the Oval Office in February, a public breach between the leaders that underscored their misalignment as Mr Trump prioritises a quick end to the fighting and restoring relations with Mr Putin. 

Mr Putin’s offer to stop attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine follows a punishing series of strikes during the winter, which had already eased as the weather warms. Meanwhile, Ukraine has targeted Russian oil refineries to cut fuel supplies and revenues.

Mr Zelensky earlier on March 19 told reporters in Helsinki that promises from Mr Putin to stop strikes on energy infrastructure would not be enough for Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil assets. He said overnight

Moscow targeted energy and transport infrastructure

as well as two hospitals. 

The Ukrainian leader also said before the Trump call that the country would never recognise areas currently occupied by Moscow’s forces as Russian, signalling further friction ahead as both Mr Trump and Mr Putin have said some territory would be lost. 

Mr Trump’s envoy, Mr Steve Witkoff, said on March 19 in an interview with Bloomberg Television that he believed a full ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine can be reached “in a couple of weeks” and that a meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Putin is “likely to happen”.

In their call on March 18, Mr Putin and Mr Trump agreed to start further negotiations towards a full settlement, which US officials said could begin in Saudi Arabia as soon as next week. BLOOMBERG