Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Donald Trump during a phone conversation on Saturday to facilitate peace in Ukraine in a manner similar to his previous efforts in the Middle East, suggesting that if Trump could halt one conflict, he could also help end others.
This discussion took place a day after Russia launched a significant assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in power outages in parts of the capital, Kyiv, and nine other regions.
Kyiv has indicated that diplomatic efforts to resolve Russia’s invasion have slowed in recent months, largely due to global focus shifting to Israel’s prolonged conflict with the militant group Hamas.
Trump, who recently announced the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in August but did not achieve any substantial peace agreement during those talks.
“I had a very positive and productive conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump,” Zelensky shared on Facebook, praising Trump for his “remarkable” ceasefire initiative in the Middle East.
Zelensky emphasized, “If peace can be achieved in one area, then it is certainly possible in others, including the conflict with Russia,” urging Trump to push for negotiations with Moscow.
The rapport between the two leaders has significantly improved since February, when they exchanged barbs during a widely publicized meeting in the White House.
Since then, Trump has adopted a more critical stance toward Moscow, while also expressing support for Ukraine.
In September, he posted on Truth Social that Ukraine should endeavor to “regain” all of its occupied territories with assistance from Europe and NATO.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump announced on Friday that she had facilitated the release of Ukrainian children taken by Russia through an unconventional communication channel with Putin.
On Saturday, Russian assaults in Ukraine resulted in at least five fatalities and power outages in parts of the southern Odesa region, as reported by Ukrainian officials.
Since its invasion began in 2022, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure every winter, causing widespread power and heating outages for millions and disrupting water supplies, actions that Kyiv has labeled as blatant war crimes.
Russia, however, claims that it does not target civilians and accuses Ukraine of using energy facilities to support its military operations.
Additionally, Ukrainian drone strikes reportedly killed two individuals in Russia, according to local officials.
Both nations have pointed fingers at each other over the stalled progress in peace negotiations in recent months.
Moscow accuses Kyiv and its European allies of blocking diplomatic efforts with Washington, while Ukraine and Europe contend that Russia is stalling to gain further control over Ukrainian land.
Russia commenced its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, characterizing it as a “special military operation” aimed at demilitarizing the nation and countering NATO’s expansion.
Kyiv and its European partners decry the war as an unlawful land acquisition that has resulted in countless civilian and military fatalities and extensive devastation.
Since 2022, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes, and Russia currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, much of which has been ravaged by ongoing conflict.
