On Friday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, which the Ukrainian president described as “very significant and productive.”
"In our discussion today, we covered the ongoing situation, such as Russian air attacks and wider movements along the frontlines," Zelenskyy shared in an update posted on X.
President Trump is highly knowledgeable, and I appreciate his focus on Ukraine. Our conversation included discussions on collaboration in air defense, and we both committed to partnering closely to enhance security in our airspace. Additionally, we reached an agreement to hold a meeting involving our respective teams.
He mentioned that they had an extensive discussion about potential collaborations in defense manufacturing as well.
We here in Ukraine sincerely appreciate all the assistance we've received. This help enables us to save lives and defend our liberty as well as sovereignty.
Zelenskyy emphasized, "We've accomplished much alongside America, and we back every initiative aimed at halting the violence and bringing about fair, enduring, and respectful peace. What’s essential is reaching an honorable peace deal."
The Ukrainian president mentioned that they explored opportunities for collaborative defense manufacturing, reciprocal procurement, and investment partnerships.
The White House and Donald Trump personally have not made any statements regarding the conversation.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's energy minister has said Russian forces have caused a blackout at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by striking a transmission line connecting the plant with the power grid.
"This line enables the plant to meet its internal needs to maintain radiation safety," German Halushchenko said on Telegram.
He said that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the plant has experienced a complete blackout eight times and has repeatedly been on the verge of one.
Trump speaks to Putin
The discussion took place one day following a telephone exchange between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they addressed matters including Ukraine, Iran, and other topics. The Kremlin characterized the dialogue as “open and productive.”
It was their sixth publicly disclosed talk Since Trump resumed his role at the White House.
Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, stated that former US president Donald Trump stressed the importance of swiftly ending hostilities. Meanwhile, Putin expressed Russia’s willingness to engage in negotiations with Kyiv, highlighting that earlier discussions held in Türkiye had produced positive outcomes related to humanitarian issues.
Meanwhile, according to Ushakov, the Russian leader stated that Moscow would aim to accomplish its objectives in Ukraine and eliminate the underlying reasons for the war.
"Russia will not back down from these goals," Ushakov told reporters after the call.
Also on Thursday, Trump complained that the United States provided too many weapons to Ukraine under the previous administration, his first public comments on the pause in some shipments as Russia escalates its full-scale invasion.
On Tuesday, the US said it was halting shipments of some air defence missiles and other weapons previously promised to Kyiv amid concerns that its own stockpiles had declined too much, according to officials.
Some military supplies had earlier been pledged to Ukraine by the Biden administration to assist with its defense efforts. Nevertheless, recent indications suggest that these commitments may be reconsidered amid growing considerations over U.S. national interests.
"The choice was taken to prioritize American interests after evaluating our country's armed forces aid programs for nations worldwide," stated White House representative Anna Kelly in an official release.