Zelensky Urges Trump to Stand by Kyiv Amid Rising Pressures
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his American counterpart Donald Trump to continue supporting Ukraine, emphasizing that U.S. pressure on Vladimir Putin is insufficient.
* Disputes Over Security Guarantees
In statements to CNN, Zelensky stressed the ongoing disputes regarding security guarantees, particularly concerning allies' reactions if Russia invades Ukraine again, as well as differences over the arrangement of peace steps.
The Ukrainian president noted that Trump is pushing for Kyiv to sign a peace agreement with Russia, alongside another agreement with the United States and European countries to secure security guarantees all at once.
However, Zelensky insisted that the U.S. Congress must first ratify these guarantees before any signing, warning: "If we give Putin everything he wants, we will lose everything."
* New Steps Towards Peace
As the war between Russia and Ukraine enters its fifth year, attention is turning to a new round of talks aimed at ending the conflict, which is expected to take place early next week, according to Kyrylo Budanov, confirming that negotiations are not easy but are approaching a moment for decisive decisions:
to continue the war or move towards peace.
Ukraine, Russia, and the United States have previously held several rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi and Geneva, the latest of which was about a week ago, aimed at finding a settlement to the conflict, according to the "RIA Novosti" agency, where talks were held behind closed doors.
* Ongoing International Support
In this context, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to hold a video meeting for the "Alliance of Willing" to support Ukraine, with Zelensky and some European leaders participating from Kyiv, where they will visit the Ukrainian capital on this occasion.
* Main Lines of Conflict
Zelensky asserts that any peace agreement involving a unilateral withdrawal from territories will not be acceptable, with control over the Donbas region remaining the main point of contention, where about 10% of the area is still under Ukrainian forces' control.
U.S. pressure continues on Moscow and Kyiv to reach an agreement to end the largest war in Europe since 1945, while Ukraine struggles to maintain its gains at the same time.
