CNN
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Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky said his conversation with President Donald Trump at the Vatican last month was still “the best,” with two leaders discussing US sanctions and Kiev’s air defense.
A brief meeting on the sidelines at Pope Francis’ funeral in April came at a critical time for Ukraine amid concerns that the US could reduce its support for Kiev and abandon peace negotiations.
Both sides described the consultation as positive, marking their first in-person encounter since the disastrous oval office meeting in February. Soon after that, Trump questioned whether Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted peace. This is the latest indication that the US leader has lost patience with his Russian counterparts.
“I think we had the best conversation with President Trump, all those people that have happened before,” Zelensky told journalists on Friday in a statement released Saturday by the Ukrainian presidential office.
“It could have been the shortest, but it was the most substantial.”
Zelensky said the pair discussed us without detailing sanctions and described Trump’s comments on the issue as “very strong.” He said he repeatedly wanted to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and wanted Trump to have an opportunity to buy American weapons.
“I told him about the amount and he said they would work on it, these things aren’t free,” Zelensky said.
He added that he and Trump agreed that the 30-day ceasefire was “the right first step” and that “we will move in this direction.”
On Wednesday, Washington and Kiev signed a critical mineral contract. The agreement has been about to be attacked since Trump returned to the White House in January.
In comments on Friday, Zelensky pointed to the Vatican Conference as a turning point to secure deals, adding that it dispelled Russia’s claim that Ukraine did not want to reach an agreement with the US. “I’m sure after the Vatican meeting, President Trump began to see things a little differently,” he said.
Under the agreement, the US and Ukraine will establish a joint investment fund, according to Ukrainian Economy Minister Julia Swillidenko. The United States may provide new military aid to the fund, Swillidenko said.
Zelensky also said the three-day ceasefire, in which Putin was called later last month, would last from midnight on May 8 to midnight on May 11, and that he was ready to register for a longer truce.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian move was a test of Ukraine’s “preparation” for peace and called for a “clear and definitive statement” from Kiev.
The date of the proposed ceasefire coincides with the commemoration of Russia’s World War II victory day on May 9th and the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Some international leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping and Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko, are expected to gather in Moscow that day to mark the day of Russia’s victory commemorating the more than 25 million Soviet soldiers and civilians who died during World War II.
Kyiv will not create a comfortable atmosphere by playing games to allow President Putin to escape from quarantine on May 9th,” Zelensky said.
In a message to senior officials traveling to Russia on May 9, the Ukrainian leader warned that Kiev “cannot be held responsible for what will happen on the territory of the Russian Federation” due to the ongoing conflict.
In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry said his comments had reached a threat.
