While attending the European Political Community Summit in Tirana, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul. The President of Ukraine noted that the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations was represented at a high level and had a mandate to discuss a ceasefire.
The Ukrainian leader expressed gratitude for the presence in Istanbul of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also serving as National Security Advisor to the President of the United States, and Special Envoy of the President of the United States Keith Kellogg. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also thanked Türkiye for organizing the negotiations.
He emphasized that for more than two months, Russia has been leaving the U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire unanswered, ignoring all possible calls, putting forward unrealistic conditions, and showing no willingness to end the war.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for increased pressure on Russia and the introduction of strong additional sanctions.
