Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky
Image: Anatolii STEPANOV / AFP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he had had a "meaningful conversation" with US President Donald Trump and that the leaders discussed ways to end Russia's nearly three-year invasion of Ukraine.
"We long talked about opportunities to achieve peace, discussed our readiness to work together at the team level," Zelensky said on social media, adding that he was "grateful to President Trump for his interest in what we can accomplish together."
Zelensky said that Trump "briefed us on his conversation with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin".
In his evening address to the nation, Zelensky said the call was "very substantive" and that he and Trump had discussed "many nuances -- diplomatic, military and economic".
"We believe America's strength is enough -- together with us, together with all our partners -- to push Russia and Putin to peace," he said.
Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office, said on television news that Zelensky stressed to Trump that the war must end "in a just peace".
He also said Ukraine's "independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty" cannot be subject to any compromise.
Yermak said Trump and Zelensky had "agreed to immediately start the work of the teams" -- the high-level officials from each side who will try to hash out a deal.
The teams will "begin a process of daily work" and Zelensky and his officials will meet US officials involved at the Munich Security Conference in a day's time, Yermak said.
He said the two sides are also working on organising a personal meeting between Zelensky and Trump that he expects "will take place very soon".
AFP