Zelensky made the comments following a call with US President Donald Trump [Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images]
Ukrainian and US teams could meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to discuss technicalities of partial ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelensky said after what he described as “very substantive” call with US counterpart Donald Trump.
“We instructed our teams to resolve technical issues related to implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire. Ukrainian and American teams are ready to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to continue coordinating steps toward peace,” Zelensky said on X.
He described his conversation with Trump as “positive, very substantive, and frank”.
The Ukrainian leader said he also confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to halt strikes on Russian infrastructure and a commitment to unconditional ceasefire on the frontline proposed earlier by the US team.
“One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure. I supported this step, and Ukraine confirmed that we are ready to implement it,” he said.
Zelensky said he was briefed by Trump about his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday after which Moscow said a halt on energy strikes was ordered. Ukrainian officials, however, said on Wednesday Russian strikes hit railway infrastructure.
The possibility of strengthening Ukraine’s air defences, which are highly reliant on allied supplies, was also discussed on the call, Zelensky added.
“We spoke about the situation in the Kursk region, touched on the issue of the release of POWs, and the return of Ukrainian children who were taken by Russian forces,” Ukrainian president said.Â
Meanwhile Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, said on Wednesday he was “encouraged” by the phone call held earlier in the day between Zelensky and Trump.
“Positive conversation with President Zelensky. I am encouraged by his substantive phone call with @POTUS Donald Trump,” Costa wrote on X.
“Halting strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure would be an important and first real step towards ending the war. We will continue our discussions with President Zelensky tomorrow at the European Council,” he added.
Discussions over a partial ceasefire in Ukraine have picked up following weeks of discussions, and Tuesday’s talk between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
