Zelensky Holds First Conversation With Trump Since White House Fiasco, Agrees To 'Unconditional Ceasefire On The Frontline'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the country is ready to accept an unconditional ceasefire on the frontline with Russia, as well as one focused on key energy infrastructure.

The development was announced by Zelensky following a phone call with Donald Trump, which took place a day after the U.S. head of State held a conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on steps toward ending the war.

In a publication on X, Zelensky said he had a "positive, very substantive, and frank conversation" and highlighted that last week's meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia last week "significantly helped in moving toward ending the war."

"We agreed that Ukraine and the United States should continue working together to achieve a real end to the war and lasting peace. We believe that together with America, with President Trump, and under American leadership, lasting peace can be achieved this year," Zelensky added, in what was his first personal conversation with Trump since a heated discussion in late February ended abruptly with the Ukrainian president ejected from the White House.

Zelensky went on to say that Trump "shared details of his conversation with Putin and the key issues discussed." He added that Ukraine is ready to end "strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure," as well as "an unconditional ceasefire on the frontline."

"We will continue working to make this happen. We believe that such steps are necessary to create the possibility for a comprehensive peace agreement to be prepared during the ceasefire," reads a passage of Zelensky's message.

The Ukrainian president finished by saying that teams from both Kyiv and Washington D.C. are ready to meet again in Saudi Arabia to continue "coordinating steps toward peace." "I thanked President Trump and the American people for their support. I stressed that Ukrainians want peace, which is why Ukraine accepted the proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. I highlighted the importance of President Trump's concept of peace through strength. We agreed to maintain constant contact, including at the highest level and through our teams," he concluded.

It is still unclear whether Kyiv and Moscow can move toward peace, as other potential conditions from Russia, including giving away territory and limiting the size of its military are a non-starter for Zelensky.

However, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration has already conceded demands to keep control of occupied territory, although it's not clear how much of it, and for Kyiv to be prevented from entering NATO. It has also agreed to limits to the Ukrainian army and weapons. European nations have conveyed concern about the possibility that the situation will leave Ukraine in a weaker position in the future.

Trump had also anticipated that he would be "talking about land" and "power plants" with Putin, as well as "dividing up certain assets."