Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday stated that he believes Donald Trump holds the key to ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict and revealed that the former US President had given him his personal phone number.
Zelenskyy mentioned that Trump provided him with the number before the opening of the Munich Security Conference.
“Yes, he gave me his telephone number,” Zelenskyy confirmed.
He further added that Trump assured him, “You can call anytime.”
Additionally, Zelenskyy said he would only agree to an in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a common plan is coordinated with Trump.
“We are ready for any conversations with America and our allies,” said Zelenskyy.
“If they provide us with specific answers to specific requests from us and a common understanding of the dangerous Putin, then, with our unified understanding, we will be ready to talk with the Russians,” AFP quoted him as saying.
The Ukrainian leader is also set to meet US Vice President JD Vance later.
Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to the Ukrainian presidency, said he had met with Donald Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
According to AP, the discussions in Munich are expected to bring together Zelenskyy and Vice President Vance, who has been advocating for a swift resolution to the war.
“The main topic of conversation was the coordination of joint efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, Yermak stated in a social media post.
Russian President “Putin never plays by the rules,” he added.
On Thursday, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine would not accept any bilateral agreement between Moscow and Washington that determines its fate without Kyiv’s involvement. He also stressed the importance of Europe having a seat at the negotiation table to end the war.
