WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have pledged to work together to end the war in Ukraine, following what the White House described as a “fantastic” one-hour phone conversation on Wednesday.
This marks their first discussion since a heated Oval Office meeting on February 28. Zelenskiy expressed gratitude for U.S. support, while both leaders agreed to send technical teams to Saudi Arabia in the coming days for further talks.
Zelenskiy Requests Air Defense Support
During the call, Zelenskiy urged Trump to provide additional air defense assistance to protect Ukraine from Russian attacks. In response, Trump assured him that the U.S. would help source the necessary military equipment from Europe, according to the White House.
Trump also briefed Zelenskiy on his recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin had rejected a proposed full 30-day ceasefire—an offer Ukraine had been willing to accept—but agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure temporarily.
Despite this development, tensions remained high, with reports that Ukraine had targeted an oil depot in southern Russia, while Russian strikes hit hospitals, homes, and railway power systems in Ukraine.
Prisoner Exchange Amid Ongoing Strikes
Despite ongoing hostilities, both sides conducted a prisoner exchange on Wednesday. A total of 175 troops were released by each country, with the deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates. Russia also freed an additional 22 wounded Ukrainian soldiers as a “goodwill gesture.”
Zelenskiy described his discussion with Trump as “positive, very substantive, and frank.” He reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness to halt strikes on Russian infrastructure and to accept an unconditional frontline ceasefire, as initially proposed by the U.S.
“One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure. I supported this step, and Ukraine confirmed that we are ready to implement it,” Zelenskiy stated on social media.
He also told reporters that Trump acknowledged Ukraine would not recognize Russian occupation of its territory.
However, Zelenskiy criticized Russia’s recent airstrikes, saying they proved that Moscow was not yet committed to peace. He suggested that the U.S. oversee any ceasefire agreements to ensure their enforcement.
The Kremlin’s Stance
The Kremlin announced it had called off planned attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and even shot down seven of its own drones en route to Ukrainian targets. However, it accused Kyiv of failing to reciprocate, claiming Ukraine was attempting to sabotage peace efforts.
Additionally, Trump reportedly proposed that the U.S. could help operate and possibly take ownership of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, including the Zaporizhzhia facility—the largest in Europe—which has been offline since Russian troops took control in 2022.
Zelenskiy confirmed that discussions with the U.S. about restoring the plant had already begun.
European Allies Express Concerns
Trump’s direct engagement with Putin has unsettled European allies, who worry that it signals a major shift in U.S. foreign policy. For decades, Washington has been committed to defending Europe against Russian expansionism.
Several European leaders noted that Putin’s rejection of a full ceasefire proved that Moscow was not genuinely seeking peace. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius remarked, “Putin is playing a game here, and I’m sure that the American president won’t be able to sit and watch for much longer.”
Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced plans to propose supplying Ukraine with two million rounds of large-caliber artillery ammunition at an upcoming summit in Brussels.
Intensified Attacks on Both Sides
Over the past three years, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy grid, justifying these attacks by claiming that civilian infrastructure supports Kyiv’s military operations. However, Ukrainians report that such strikes have decreased in recent months.
Ukraine has also intensified its long-range drone operations, frequently targeting Russian oil and gas facilities, which it says are fueling the war.
On Wednesday, Russian drone attacks damaged two hospitals in Ukraine’s Sumy region, forcing the evacuation of patients and medical staff. In Kyiv’s outskirts, airstrikes injured a 60-year-old man and hit homes and businesses in Bucha.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil depot in Russia’s Krasnodar region. The facility is a key rail terminal supplying oil to a pipeline that transports fuel from Kazakhstan to the Black Sea. Two industry sources indicated that the attack might disrupt Russian oil flows.
As both sides escalate their strikes, the path to ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II remains uncertain.
With report from Reuters
