Zelenskyy wants talks with Putin as Trump pushes peace
發佈日期: 2025-08-19 20:00
TVB News
U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to bring together Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukraine counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a face-to-face meeting.
Trump called Putin after meeting Zelenskyy who says he is open to talks.
It could be a major step towards peace.
President Trump, the go to guy, for Vladimir Putin and now Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Set to be the go between as direct talks between the Ukraine and Russian leaders move closer.
It has not happened during the three-year conflict.
Zelenskyy said: "We are ready ready for any format of meeting at leader's level to solve complicated issues. We are ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin, or a trilateral meeting."
Zelenskyy also says he plans to buy U.S. military equipment worth 90 billion dollars with Europe's backing.
America seems set to accept.
Earlier, inside the White House, the Trump-Zelenskyy summit struck a completely different tone.
Trump welcomed Zelenskyy in contrast to the acrimonious slanging match that developed the last time Zelenskyy was here in February.
Handshakes, praise, "thank yous" and goodwill gestures.
Zelenskyy offering a letter to Trump: "Thank you, and using this opportunity, many thanks to your wife, the first lady of the United States. She sent a letter to Putin about our children, abducted children, and my wife, the first lady of Ukraine, she gave the letter. It's not to you, to your wife.
The letter the U.S. First Lady sent to Putin was mentioned by her husband with Donald Trump adding: "She sees the heartbreak, the parents, the funerals that you see on television. Always funerals. We want to see something other than funerals. No, she felt it was a beautiful letter. It was very well received by him. And she did ask me to say, you know, she would love to see this end. She would love see it end.
The more relaxed and cordial atmosphere compared to six months previously extended to Zelenskyy's attire after his previous dressing down.
Reporter : You look fabulous in that suit.
Trump: I said the same thing. I said the same thing. Yeah, it looks good. He is the same one that attacked you last time.
Zelenskyy: I remember that.
Reporter: I apologize to you. You look wonderful. My first question for you, President Zelenskyy...
Zelenskyy: You're in the same suit. I changed, you don't.
The whole room made to laugh by the former comedian.
Reports suggest Trump is trying to pressure Zelenskyy to accept the "land for peace" option. A map in the corner of the room showed Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine.
Trump says the U.S. will help guarantee Ukraine's security and says Putin has agreed, Europe will play its part too: "We'll be talking about that. They'll all be involved. But there'll be a lot of... there'll be a lot of help. When it comes to security, there's going to be a lot help. It's going to be good. They are first line of defence because they're there. They're Europe. But we're going to help them out also. We'll be involved.
European leaders referenced NATO's Article 5, a principle of collective defence.
They hope it could be a model for Ukraine's security.
Later, Trump spoke with Putin for 40 minutes.
Trump appears determined to bring the leaders and the countries closer together. "I love the Ukrainian people, but I love all people. I love the Russian people. I love them all. I want to the war stopped."
