President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on Wednesday for the first time since a high-profile Oval Office confrontation led the U.S. to briefly halt military and intelligence assistance to Kyiv.
During the call, which lasted approximately an hour, the leaders discussed a limited ceasefire agreement with Russia, focusing on halting attacks on energy infrastructure, including nuclear power plants and oil refineries.
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“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,” Trump said, promising further details in the coming days.
The conversation comes after Trump’s 90-minute call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, during which Russia agreed to a more limited truce instead of the 30-day full ceasefire previously backed by Ukraine and the U.S..
According to the Trump administration, the next step in negotiations will involve talks in Saudi Arabia, where U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian officials will work toward expanding the ceasefire and drafting a long-term peace agreement.
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Even as negotiations continue, the war has not stopped. Just hours before Trump and Zelenskyy’s call, Russia launched overnight drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, while Moscow accused Kyiv of striking a Russian oil depot in response.
Despite this, a planned prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia went forward, with both sides releasing 175 prisoners each. Russia also returned 22 wounded Ukrainian soldiers, with mediation assistance from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Trump met with UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the White House following his call with Putin, suggesting the UAE’s increasing role in brokering diplomatic efforts between Kyiv and Moscow.
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National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said Wednesday that he had already spoken with his Russian counterpart to arrange another round of negotiations.
While Ukraine remains wary of a partial ceasefire that does not guarantee long-term security, Zelenskyy emphasized that direct discussions with Trump are crucial in shaping any final agreement.
As diplomatic talks continue, both sides are still actively engaged in military operations, raising concerns that without a full ceasefire, the war could continue indefinitely despite ongoing negotiations.
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