By Kazeem Ugbodaga
In a major diplomatic breakthrough, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a crucial phone conversation, reaffirming their commitment to ending the ongoing war.
The call, described as “fantastic” by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, covered a range of strategic and humanitarian issues, including military aid, ceasefire negotiations, and post-war reconstruction efforts.
According to a statement jointly issued by Secretary Rubio and National Security Advisor (NSA) Waltz, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the United States’ steadfast support, particularly the provision of Javelin missiles, which he acknowledged Trump had been the first to supply.
“The leaders agreed Ukraine and America will continue working together to bring about a real end to the war, and that lasting peace under President Trump’s leadership can be achieved,” the statement read.
A significant development from the call was the agreement on a partial ceasefire regarding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Both leaders instructed their technical teams to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to explore extending the ceasefire to the Black Sea—a move seen as a potential first step toward a broader peace deal.
“They agreed this could be the first step toward the full end of the war and ensuring security,” the statement emphasized, adding that Zelenskyy “was grateful for the President’s leadership in this effort and reiterated his willingness to adopt a full ceasefire.”
Zelenskyy also urged Trump to provide additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians, specifically Patriot missile systems.
In response, Trump pledged to work with European allies to assess available options. The two leaders also discussed heightened security concerns in Kursk, agreeing to closely coordinate intelligence sharing between their defense teams.
Beyond military support, Trump assured Zelenskyy that the United States would assist in Ukraine’s energy sector recovery, particularly in nuclear power plant operations.
“American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure,” the statement quoted Trump as saying, underscoring a potential U.S. role in safeguarding Ukraine’s electricity supply.
Humanitarian efforts were another focal point of the discussion. Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for Trump’s ongoing push to facilitate prisoner-of-war (POW) exchanges, noting that a successful exchange had recently taken place.
Trump also raised concerns about Ukrainian children abducted during the war, vowing to work with all parties involved to ensure their safe return.
The statement concluded with a commitment from both leaders to sustain efforts toward a lasting ceasefire, directing their teams—including Secretary Rubio, NSA Waltz, and Special Envoy Kellogg—to advance negotiations swiftly.
“The Presidents emphasized that in further meetings, the teams can agree on all necessary aspects of advancing toward lasting peace and security,” the statement read.
