Zelenskyy, Trump, and EU officials engaged in a 15-minute chat, as revealed by Axios.
Ukraine's eager for face-to-face chats with Russia, but only if a 30-day truce goes down first. That's the lowdown from sources who caught wind of a May 10 chat between Volodymyr Zelensky, European politicos, and U.S. President Donny Trump, as spilled to Axios.
The chat lasted a quarter hour. A source in the know said Trump seemed chuffed that Ukraine's on board with the truce and ready for talks with Russia. Another source chimed in, claiming Trump was stoked 'cause they all supported his peace plan proposal. The verdict? Russia's actions are the next big deal on the agenda.
European bigwigs on the call stressed that if Russia nixes the truce, they'll beef up sanctions. Previously, Boris Johnson and Friedrich Merz toolshed similar sentiments.
After the powwow, Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Ministry shouted out that Kyiv's ready for a 30-day ceasefire on land, in the sky, and at sea.
The Russian side voiced concerns about implementing a ceasefire. For instance, the Kremlin called out the continued shipment of weapons to Ukraine and the ongoing mobilization during this timeframe.
In the closing act of April, Putin bid adieu to a ceasefire to honor the 80th anniversary of Victory. The pause kicked off at midnight on May 7 and wrapped up at midnight on May 11. Russia's Defense Ministry cried foul, blaming Ukraine's Army for over 9,000 truce violations throughout this time.
Putin, though, kept it official and declared Moscow's willingness to crack open dialogues with Kyiv sans preconditions.
The peace plan proposals swirling in relation to Ukraine's clash involve some crucial components, such as those backed by the U.S., spearheaded by former President Donny Trump's "final offer" and broader European and Ukrainian perspectives. Here's a rundown of the juicy bits:
Trump's Peace Plan Highlights:
- NATO U-turn: Ukraine promises to turn its back on NATO, though it could join the European Union instead.
- Sanction Shelving: The scrapping of sanctions slapped on Russia since 2014.
- Robust Security Guarantee: A solid security assurance, with a crew of European nations possibly joined by non-European allies. The U.S. keeps a low profile in this aspect.
- Territorial Adjustments: The surrender of a snippet of the Kharkiv oblast currently possessed by Russia, plus unhampered passage along the Dnieper River.
- Rebuild Boost: Compensation and assistance for reconstruction efforts, although the funding sources specter unknown.
- Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant: The plant stays under Ukraine's control, but the U.S. will manage operations, delivering juice to both Ukraine and Russia.
- U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Contract: The game plan references a U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal.
European and Ukrainian Peace Plans in Brief:
Though the nitty-gritty of Europe and Ukraine's peace plan proposals remain under wraps, these parties in general crave:- Russian Troop Departure: A total withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied lands.- International Recognition: A global nod to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.- Economic Support: Support for Ukraine's economic rebuild and recovery.
- The U.S., along with European politicos, is eagerly awaiting a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia before any talks can commence.
- Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire on land, in the sky, and at sea, as announced by their Foreign Affairs Ministry.
- If Russia fails to honor the agreed ceasefire, there are plans to beef up sanctions, as suggested by European bigwigs during talks.
- The general news now follows Russia's response to the proposed ceasefire and the potential for politics to shift should the talks progress.
