Putin’s affect looms giant as Zelensky meets Trump in Florida for peace talks | EUROtoday

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump met for essential peace talks – however the US president’s name with Russian chief Vladimir Putin shortly beforehand suggests obstacles to the top of the conflict stay.

Mr Zelensky travelled to Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Sunday hoping to make progress on the proposed 20-point peace plan, with explicit issues over safety and financial agreements.

He shook fingers with Mr Trump on the steps of the Florida residence because the US president instructed reporters: “We’ll get it done,” and added: “I do think we have the makings of a deal… We are in the final stages of talking.”

Mr Trump said he would be speaking to Mr Putin following the meeting, as he described both Russia and Ukraine as “willing countries”.

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The Russian president may have been physically absent from the talks, but his influence was felt distinctly. Mr Trump said he had a “very productive” call with Mr Putin over the phone ahead of the crunch negotiations – conversations Moscow said took place at the US leader’s request.

Later, Kremlin spokesperson Yury Ushakov said the pair had a “broadly similar view” that any temporary ceasefire would “prolong the conflict”, and urged Ukraine to make a decision over the Donbas region “without delay”.

Prior to the meeting, Mr Zelensky made it clear “territorial points” would remain a key point as Moscow and Kyiv are still divided over the fate of the highly coveted Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky said that while these have been “some of the most active diplomatic days of the year”, plenty would “depend on the partners” and whether or not they would put pressure on Moscow. The US and Ukrainian presidents added their talks would include a call with European leaders.

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President Trump told Politico on Friday that Mr Zelensky “doesn’t have anything until I approve it”, as he continues to regulate negotiations between the warring countries. He also said he expected to speak with Mr Putin “as much as I want”.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday that Moscow had been in contact with the US.

“It was agreed upon to proceed the dialogue,” he said.

Ahead of the meeting, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned that, as talks of security guarantees continue, any European troop contingents deployed to Ukraine would become legitimate targets for Russia’s armed forces.

In remarks published by Russia’s state news agency TASS, Lavrov, without evidence, accused European politicians of being driven by “ambitions” in their relations with Kyiv and disregarding the ‌people of ​Ukraine and their own nations.

Russia’s president applied pressure on Saturday with a timely barrage of almost 500 drones and 40 missiles on Kyiv, where two people died while dozens were hospitalised, including two children.

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Ukraine’s capital faced large-scale power cuts that left citizens without heating during the sub-zero winter temperatures.

In a meeting with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday, Mr Zelensky said the key to peace is “strain on Russia and adequate, robust assist for Ukraine”. To that finish, Mr Carney introduced extra financial help from his authorities to assist Ukraine rebuild.

Mr Carney denounced the”barbarism” of Russia’s newest assaults on Kyiv and credited each Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump with creating the situations for a “just and lasting peace” at an important second.

“Ukraine is keen to do no matter it takes to cease this conflict,” Mr Zelensky posted on X on Saturday. “We must be robust on the negotiating desk.”