Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said he had a “positive and productive” conversation with US President Donald Trump, congratulating him on his recent Gaza peace deal that ended the two-year Israel-Hamas conflict. Zelenskyy urged Trump to use his influence to broker peace in Ukraine and bring Russia to the negotiating table.
In his statement on X, Zelenskyy noted that he highlighted the Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and discussed options to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence. He emphasized that real diplomacy requires Russia’s willingness to engage, asserting that stopping wars is possible if parties are ready to negotiate.
The conversation follows Israel and Hamas signing a ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange as part of the first phase of Trump’s Middle East initiative. Zelenskyy praised the deal as a significant step toward ending the conflict, and drew a parallel, saying if one war can be halted, others—including Russia’s war in Ukraine—can be resolved as well.
Trump has been in discussions with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in efforts to broker a peace agreement. Relations between Zelenskyy and Trump have improved since earlier tensions earlier this year, with both leaders meeting recently on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Zelenskyy continues to rally support from European allies and other nations, including India, to pressure Russia toward ending hostilities and engaging in peace talks.
