Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed European leaders in a joint telephone conversation about his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday, while the European partners stressed the urgency of achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, for which they reaffirmed their support.
Zelensky briefed them on the content of his “productive and extensive meeting ” with Trump, and also stressed that “the most important thing now is to protect as many lives as possible, ensure the security of Ukraine and strengthen us all in Europe.”
He also thanked the partners who took part in the conversation - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ; Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ; Finnish President Alexander Stubb ; Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre ; Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk ; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ; European Council President António Costa ; and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte - for their support for Ukraine.
The leaders coordinated their positions and agreed that their national security advisors would discuss next steps, the statement released Saturday by the Presidential Office added.
German government spokesman Steffen Kornelius said that Merz and its partners welcomed this close transatlantic cooperation and stressed the urgency of efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
They assured Zelensky that they would expand their support to move Russia toward serious negotiations, including by increasing sanctions pressure with the European Union's 19th package and using frozen Russian state assets, the statement added.
“Volodymyr Zelenskyy has the full support of Germany and his European friends on the path to peace. Following his meeting with President Donald Trump, we have coordinated and will closely monitor the next steps,” the German chancellor said after the conversation.
He stressed that “now Ukraine needs a peace plan ”.
“More than two hours of substantive conversation with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, which can really bring us closer to ending this war,” Zelensky wrote in a Telegram message.
He added that"Russia must end the aggression it initiated and deliberately prolongs." "We are counting on pressure from the United States," he said.
For his part, after his meeting with Trump, Zelensky explained to the press that both leaders discussed the issue of long-range weapons, but agreed not to release details “because the United States does not want an escalation.” In a clear message to Moscow, the Ukrainian president stated that “Russia is afraid of the Tomahawks, really afraid of them, because it is a very powerful weapon.” The president maintained his position of requesting these missiles, arguing that their ability to reach targets on Russian territory could force Vladimir Putin to consider more seriously peace proposals and direct negotiations.
For his part, Trump also adopted a cautious stance regarding the possible supply of missiles to Ukraine. During the meeting with Zelensky, he expressed doubts about the advisability of authorizing the shipment of these systems, stating:"I also have an obligation to make sure that we are fully supplied as a country, because you never know what can happen in times of war and peace." Trump said that he would prefer that the Ukrainians not need the Tomahawks and that the conflict end.
Hours after the meeting between Zelensky and Trump, Russia launched a new attack on Ukraine with more than 600 drones on Saturday. According to official data provided by the local leader via Telegram, 642 drones of various modifications, mostly FPV, were used in the bombing. At least three armored self-propelled multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) also opened fire on Ukraine.
