Ushakov mentioned Trump and Putin spoke for almost an hour. He mentioned the Russian president mentioned he was open to a “negotiated answer” to finish the combating.
However he added that Putin “is not going to step again from its targets” within the battle.
After the decision, Trump mentioned he had made no progress with Putin. Talking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump mentioned he additionally mentioned Iran and with the Russian chief.
Hours earlier than the cellphone name, Zelensky met European leaders within the Danish metropolis of Aarhus to shore up army help for his nation and set out a path for Ukraine to affix 27 different nations as a member of the EU – a prospect Putin strongly rejects.
Zelensky, chatting with reporters alongside the EU leaders, questioned whether or not Trump and Putin might discover frequent floor of their cellphone name and declared Ukraine was ready to strike a peace deal however mentioned Russia wouldn’t agree.
“We supported from the very starting the thought of President Trump [for an] unconditional ceasefire,” he mentioned.
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Zelensky added that he was prepared for “any sort of format” for a peace assembly however argued it needed to embody Putin himself. The Russian chief despatched low-level officers to the final talks with Ukraine.
“I feel that in Russia, solely Putin [is the] actual choice maker,” Zelensky mentioned. “That’s why we’d like [a] assembly on the extent of leaders if we actually need peace.”
Russia launched one other wave of drones throughout Ukraine on Thursday evening, the Kyiv Unbiased information website reported, sending civilians into bomb shelters. The assaults got here within the early hours of Friday morning in Australia. Kyiv Unbiased journalists reported listening to a number of rounds of explosions within the capital.
On Thursday, Main Basic Mikhail Gudkov – the deputy head of Russia’s navy who additionally led a brigade combating towards Ukraine – was reported killed in Russia’s Kursk area. He is among the most senior Russian army officers to have been killed by Ukraine since Moscow launched its full-scale conflict towards Ukraine in 2022.
The EU assembly in Aarhus marked the beginning of Denmark’s presidency of the union over the following six months, giving Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen extra sway over coverage to again Ukraine.
On this picture supplied by Ukraine’s Territorial Defence press service, troopers shoot at Russian targets close to Kharkiv on Wednesday. Credit score: AP
Frederiksen mentioned the US ought to proceed its army help for Ukraine, but in addition argued that Europe ought to “fill the hole” if needed.
“The conflict in Ukraine has by no means been about Ukraine – it’s about Europe,” she mentioned in a press convention alongside Zelensky, von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.
“And, subsequently, if we’re to guard Ukraine and Europe and the trans-Atlantic alliance, we now have to make sure that Ukraine will get the assistance that you just want.
“All of us hope that [the] US will proceed their help for Ukraine, and due to Ukraine, for Europe. But when there are any gaps, then I personally imagine that we must be prepared to fill in.”
With Bloomberg, Reuters
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