Trump said he had a ‘very good’ telephone call with President Zelensky since the pair’s disastrous Oval Office meeting last month – adding the leaders were ‘very much on track’ towards a peace deal
Donald Trump hailed his hour-long phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky a “very good” chat, sparking fresh hopes for a much-anticipated ceasefire plan for Ukraine.
The US President took to Truth Social, revealing the two leaders focused on aligning both Russia and Ukraine’s demands, and were “very much on track” towards a peace deal. His positive comments were a stark contrast to the pair’s heated exchange in the Oval Office last month, where Trump accused Zelensky “gambling with World War 3”, telling him: “You have to be thankful. You don’t have the cards.” His vice-president JD Vance also chimed in, asking Zelensky: “Have you said thank you once this entire meeting?”
Tensions appear to have eased since the explosive chat, with both Zelensky and Putin agreeing to halt attacks on energy infrastructure – but both leaders have since accused each other of continued strikes. Trump is meanwhile pushing for a broader ceasefire, which involves an immediate 30-day end to fighting on land, air and sea – a move backed by Ukraine but rejected by Putin in a seperate two hour call with the US President on Tuesday.
READ MORE: 5 unhinged things Donald Trump has let slip in the last 24 hours as he speaks to Putin and Zelensky
A prisoner swap has also taken place between Kyiv and Moscow, with each side releasing 175 prisoners of war. Zelensky hailed the exchange “one of the largest,” adding that Russia sent back an extra 22 “severely wounded” soldiers.
After his call with Zelensky, Trump wrote: “Just completed a very good telephone call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. It lasted approximately one hour. Much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs.
We are very much on track, and I will ask Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, to give an accurate description of the points discussed. That Statement will be put out shortly.”
Key Points discussed in Trump’s call with Zelensky
Trump’s call with Zelensky on Wednesday was described as an effort to align both Russia and Ukriane’s needs for a potential truce. The US President suggested the crucial talks are headed in the right direction, as he revealed the leaders were “very much on track” towards a ceasefire. During their chat, Zelenskyy thanked the US for Javelin missiles provided to Ukraine by Trump and for pushing for prisoner exchanges.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio later revealed Trump had agreed to help Ukraine source additional air defence systems, particularly in Europe, and said that technical teams would meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss broadening the ceasefire to the Black Sea. In another major move, Trump suggested the US could help operate Ukraine’s power plants, offering “the best protection” for Ukraine’s energy grid under US management.
Zelensky confirmed Ukraine was ready to implement a limited energy and infrastructure ceasefire and described his call with Trump as “frank” and “positive,” saying both sides agreed to keep working toward a real end to the war.
During a press conference held shortly after the chat, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the call as “fantastic” and “productive”. She said talks between Trump and Zelensky’s have “significantly helped” in efforts towards a peace deal. “We have never been closer to peace,” Leavitt said. She added that intelligence sharing in terms of Ukraine defence will continue.
Zelensky confirmed Ukraine was ready to implement a limited energy and infrastructure ceasefire. He said: “I had a positive, very substantive, and frank conversation with President of the United States Donald Trump. We agreed that Ukraine and the United States should continue working together to achieve a real end to the war and lasting peace. We believe that together with America, with President Trump, and under American leadership, lasting peace can be achieved this year.”
He added: “One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure. I supported this step. The American side also proposed an unconditional ceasefire on the frontline, and Ukraine accepted this proposal as well. We will continue working to make this happen.
“I thanked President Trump and the American people for their support. I stressed that Ukrainians want peace, which is why Ukraine accepted the proposal for an unconditional ceasefire.”
White House statement on Zelensky phone call in full
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, and Mike Waltz, Donald Trump’s national security adviser said in a statement after the president’s call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
“Today, President Donald J. Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a fantastic phone conversation. President Zelenskyy thanked President Trump for a productive start for the work of the Ukrainian and American teams in Jeddah on 11th March. The meeting of the senior officials from both nations significantly helped in moving towards ending the war.
“President Zelenskyy thanked President Trump for the support of the United States, especially the Javelin missiles that President Trump was first to provide, and his efforts towards peace. The leaders agreed Ukraine and America will continue working together to bring about a real end to the war, and that lasting peace under President Trump’s leadership can be achieved.
“President Trump fully briefed President Zelenskyy on his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the key issues discussed. They reviewed the situation in Kursk and agreed to share information closely between their defence staffs as the battlefield situation evolved.
“President Zelenskyy asked for additional air defence systems to protect his civilians, particularly Patriot missile systems, President Trump agreed to work with him to find what was available, particularly in Europe.
“The two leaders also agreed on a partial ceasefire against energy. Technical teams will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to discuss broadening the ceasefire to the Black Sea on the way to a full ceasefire. They agreed this could be the first step towards the full end of the war and ensuring security.
“President Zelenskyy was grateful for the President’s leadership in this effort and reiterated his willingness to adopt a full ceasefire. President Trump also discussed Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants. He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
“President Zelenskyy also thanked President Trump for continuing to push humanitarian concerns, including the exchange of POWs. He noted they had just had a successful exchange and thanked the President for his leadership. President Trump also asked President Zelenskyy about the children who had gone missing from Ukraine during the war, including the ones that had been abducted. President Trump promised to work closely with both parties to help make sure those children were returned home.
“They agreed all parties must continue the effort to make a ceasefire work. The presidents noted the positive work of their advisers and representatives, especially Secretary Rubio, National Security Adviser Waltz, Special Envoy Kellogg, and others. The presidents instructed their teams to move ahead with the technical issues related to implementing and broadening the partial ceasefire. The presidents instructed their advisers and representatives to carry out this work as quickly as possible.
“The presidents emphasised that in further meetings, the teams can agree on all necessary aspects of advancing towards lasting peace and security.”
