Late Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation, after which Trump announced on social media that the United States would impose sanctions on Russia if it did not agree to an extended ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.
In March, during discussions in Saudi Arabia, the Trump administration proposed a 30-day truce aimed at facilitating peace negotiations. While Ukraine accepted this proposal, Russia has insisted on negotiating the terms of a settlement before agreeing to any ceasefire.
Following a meeting with President Zelensky in Vatican City at Pope Francis’s funeral last month, Trump warned Russia that sanctions could follow if it withdrew from peace talks. His recent social media statement after the call with Zelensky marked his clearest linkage of additional U.S. sanctions to Russia’s acceptance of a 30-day ceasefire.
"If the ceasefire is not honored, the U.S. and its allies will enforce further sanctions," Trump stated in his post on Truth Social, his own social media platform.
Trump emphasized that the United States is advocating for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire to enable negotiations.
According to a statement from President Zelensky’s office, the two leaders exchanged congratulations on the anniversary marking the end of World War II in Europe. The statement also noted that Trump expressed his desire to see the conflict resolved and his readiness to assist.
This phone call and subsequent announcement represent a notable shift in the former administration’s stance, moving closer to Ukraine’s position after a period marked by concessions to Russia, including expanded diplomatic engagement and opposition to a U.N. resolution condemning Moscow’s actions.
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