Trump pledges global peace and end to Ukraine conflict

Commitment made after "very good call" with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy

WASHINGTON:

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump declared on Truth Social that he had a "very good call" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday. Trump promised to end the ongoing war between Kyiv and Moscow through negotiations, emphasizing his commitment to achieving global peace.

Trump stated that if elected, he would "bring peace to the world and end the war that has cost so many lives." He expressed confidence that both sides would be able to negotiate a deal that would end the violence and set a course for prosperity. Trump has previously claimed that the invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin in February 2022 would not have occurred under his presidency. He has also pledged to resolve the conflict before taking office if he wins the November 5 election.

In response, Zelenskiy confirmed the conversation and expressed gratitude for the military assistance provided by the United States. However, he did not address Trump’s peace efforts or the ongoing conflict in his social media post on platform X. Zelenskiy congratulated Trump on his Republican nomination and condemned the recent assassination attempt on him. He praised the critical bipartisan support from the US in defending Ukraine’s freedom and independence, while also noting the continuing Russian aggression against Ukrainian cities and villages.

Zelenskiy remains firm in his stance that negotiations with Russia are not possible as long as Russian troops are present in Ukraine. His proposed peace plan, recently highlighted at a global summit that excluded Russia, calls for the complete withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of Ukraine's 1991 post-Soviet borders.

Currently, Russian troops occupy about 20% of Ukrainian territory, and Moscow's forces have made gradual gains in the eastern regions along the 1,000-km (600-mile) front since capturing the key city of Avdiivka in February.