US, Ukrainian presidents and European leaders hold virtual meeting ahead of Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said US President Donald Trump expressed his readiness to provide his country with security guarantees.
“There must be truly reliable security guarantees. By the way, today President Trump spoke about his support for this and America's readiness to participate,” Zelenskyy told a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.
During the briefing, held after a videoconference involving himself, Trump, Merz, and other European leaders, Zelenskyy said they agreed on five common principles for ending the Ukraine war, ahead of Friday's meeting between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Zelenskyy expressed hope that the central topic of the meeting between Trump and Putin will be an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, and reaffirmed that issues related to the country's territorial integrity cannot be discussed without regard “for our state, our people, the will of the state, the will of our people, and the Constitution of Ukraine.”
He argued that sanctions must be strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire in Alaska, claiming Putin is “bluffing” when he says sanctions on Moscow do not work.
The Ukrainian president added that Trump suggested to contact him after the Alaska meeting and determine their “next steps” following the summit.
