Zelenskyy is Trump-Poutin’s summit:

Russia has pointed to the United States that it may be willing to end war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy He said to journalists on Tuesday.

“We had a call with President Trump and with some European leaders. During the call, there was a sign of Mr. Witkoff, who was also on the call, that Russia is ready to finish the war, ready for a first step, at least, towards a high fire,” said Zelenskyy, referring to the special environment of the United States Steve Witkoff. “And that this is the first sign of this type of them.”

However, Zelenskyy also warned that “the conversations about us, without us, will not work”, before the individual summit of President Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska Scheduled for Friday.

The call that involved Zelenskyy, Mr. Trump and Witkoff took place last week, said Zelenskyy office spokesman to News themezone on Tuesday.

While Zelenskyy said that “all in the call” were encouraged by what was seen as a “change” in the position of Russia, the Ukrainian leader said that Ukraine will not withdraw, under any circumstances, his forces of the Donbas region occupied by Russia in eastern Ukraine.

“Our territories are illegally occupied. For the Russians, Donbas is a springboard for a new future offensive. If we leave Donbas on our own or under pressure, we will invite to a third war,” said Zelenskyy.

The summit between Trump and Putin is the first meeting in person between Putin and a president of the United States since Russia invaded Ukraine. It was described as “an listening exercise for the president”, by the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday.

“Only a part involved in this war will be present, so this is for the president to go and obtain, again, a firmer and better understanding of how we can put an end to this war,” Leavitt said.

It is widely expected that Putin requires that the Ukrainian forces withdraw from all parts of the Donbas de Ukranian region, of which the Russian forces had since the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Following Russia Large -scale invasion From Ukraine in 2022, the area under Russian occupation has increased, although Ukrainian forces currently have territory in parts of Donetsk, a province located within Donbas.

Before Mr. Trump’s meeting with Putin, a spokesman for the Zelenskyy office confirmed News themezone to attend a virtual meeting on Wednesday With Mr. Trump and European leaders To discuss war.

Speaking to journalists in the White House information room on Monday, Trump expressed optimism that his meeting with Putin will be “constructive” and said he plans to establish a meeting in person involving Putin and Zelenskyy.

“The next meeting will be with Zelenskyy and Putin or Zelenskyy and Putin and I,” Trump said.

Two sources familiar with these negotiations told News themezone on Tuesday that the United States is working on a place for a Trump-Poutin-Zelenskyy meeting as soon as the end of next week.

But Zelenskyy remained firm in his comments on Tuesday that such a meeting should not have the participation of European leaders.

“The presence of Europe in one way or another is very important, because ultimately, so far, no one but Europe has provided us with security guarantees,” he said.

As for Mr. Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska, Zelenskyy said the meeting would only benefit one person: the Russian leader.

“I think Putin will benefit from this, because what he is looking for, frankly, are the photographs. He needs a photo of a meeting with President Trump,” Zelenskyy said. “Ukrainian problems must be discussed by at least three games.”

Jennifer Jacobs contributed to this report.

• Ukraine
• Russia
• Trump administration
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy