Zelensky says he had ‘productive’ call with Trump ahead of ceasefire deadline
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US President Donald Trump meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, on Feb 28, 2025.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug 5 that he had had a “productive” conversation with his US counterpart Donald Trump on ending the war, sanctions on Russia and the finalisation of a US-Ukraine drone deal.
“President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities,” Mr Zelensky wrote on X, referring to intensifying drone and missile attacks.
Mr Trump, who has signalled frustration with Mr Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, has given the Russian President until Aug 8
A source in Washington said US envoy Steve Witkoff would be meeting the Russian leadership in Moscow on Aug 6.
Speaking in his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said Mr Trump “knows the situation along the front line”, which extends for 1,000km through eastern and southern Ukraine.
Ukraine, he said, had long supported US proposals for an immediate ceasefire and had proposed a number of formats to implement a halt to the fighting.
“We have spoken with and proposed to Russia quiet in the skies, no missile and drone attacks and specifically no attacks on civilian infrastructure or on the energy sector,” he said.
“All of these have been violated by the Russians and in a very cynical fashion.”
Mr Trump has threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions and impose 100 per cent tariffs on countries that buy its oil, although sources close to the Kremlin have told Reuters that Mr Putin is unlikely to bow to the ultimatum.
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine was also ready to conclude a deal with the US on the purchase of Ukrainian drones that would amount to “one of the strongest agreements”.
He had earlier said the deal was worth around US$30 billion (S$39 billion)
Ukraine is increasingly seeking financing and investment from its foreign partners to bolster its burgeoning domestic arms industry.
Mr Zelensky said Kyiv’s European partners had so far pledged to buy more than US$1 billion in US weapons for Ukraine as part of a new scheme. REUTERS
