Satisfied about that Conversations in Davos said President Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his desire to conclude a peace agreement with Russia. During his conversation with journalists on board Air Force One, he also spoke of a “final phase” of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. This was reported by the portal of the Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne shortly after midnight on Friday.
However, Trump did not become specific. When asked about possible concessions, Trump said that all sides would have to compromise – including Europe. Trump also emphasized that, in his opinion, both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky are currently interested in an agreement. Zelensky told him personally that he wanted to negotiate. “He came and said he wanted an agreement. I wasn’t sure about that before,” Suspilne quoted Trump as saying.
A few hours earlier, Ukrainian President Zelensky said he had reached an agreement with Trump on security guarantees. However, he did not provide any specific details of these security guarantees. There is no confirmation from Trump.
Security guarantees or dead end?
Ukrainian parliamentarian Olexandr Mereshko, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, was more explicit about the prospects for peace. in a conversation with the Ukrainian service of Radio Liberty. “The most important questions remain unchanged. Mr. Witkoff insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk region. There may be discussions about the so-called security guarantees, which are currently more of a symbolic nature than real guarantees,” Mereshko said. And: “This is basically a dead end.”
In his conversations and appearances at World Economic Summit in Davos Zelenskyj had shown himself to be emphatically conciliatory towards Trump. “The dialogue may not be easy, but today it was positive – that’s enough,” the Ukrainian service of Radio Liberty quoted the Ukrainian president as saying about his conversation with Trump. In his speech to the plenary session, Zelensky emphasized the importance of US support.
The large-scale Russian war of aggression against Ukraine began with the invasion on February 24, 2022. The annexation of Crimea took place in March 2014, and shortly afterwards the conflict broke out in the eastern Ukrainian regions.
“When the ceasefire begins, there will be contingents, joint patrols and flags of partners on Ukrainian soil. And this is the right signal… But there is always a ‘but’. We need President Trump’s support. Security guarantees will not work without the United States,” the unian.ua news agency quoted Zelensky as saying.
Zelensky criticizes Europe’s hesitation
Zelensky’s tone towards his European allies sounded less conciliatory. He criticized their hesitant attitude towards supplying weapons systems such as Tomahawk or Taurus to Ukraine. According to Zelensky, he was advised in Europe not to mention tomahawk weapons to America so as not to spoil the mood. And they say it’s better not to ask about Taurus.
Europe lacks unity. This fragmentation weakens Europe’s ability to effectively counter Russia. Europe is wasting a historic opportunity to develop into a global shaping power, said the president.
Meeting in Abu Dhabi with US representatives on Friday
Meanwhile, the marathon negotiations continue. This Friday, Russian and Ukrainian negotiating teams will meet in the presence of US representatives in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin had already negotiated in Moscow for more than three and a half hours that night.
Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, and government advisor Josh Gruenbaum were also there. On the Russian side, Putin was joined by his special envoy Kirill Dmitriyev and Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov.
But in Ukraine, hopes of an early end to the war are dampened. Olexandr Mereshko said he doesn’t believe the war will end this year.