Ukraine ceasefire: EU chief hails ‘very good call’ with Trump on KYIV

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday hailed a “very good call” with Donald Trump and leaders of Ukraine and European countries.

Notably, this virtual call comes at a time when a meeting between US President Trump and Russian president Putin is just a two days away.

“Today Europe, the US and NATO have strengthened the common ground for Ukraine. We will remain in close coordination. Nobody wants peace more than us, a just and lasting peace,” von der Leyen said on X.

Ceasefire in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said that Russia should face new sanctions if it does not agree to an “immediate ceasefire” at a summit with US President Donald Trump this week.

Zelenskiy in Berlin for online meeting with Trump, European leaders

“We hope that the central topic at the meeting will be a ceasefire. An immediate ceasefire,” Zelensky said after a call with Trump and European leaders ahead of the US-Russia summit in Alaska on Friday.

“Sanctions must be in place and must be strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire,” he added, speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.

President Macron on Ukraine

Only Ukrainian Zelensky can negotiate a land deal with Russia in an effort to end Moscow’s war against his country, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday.

“Territorial questions concerning Ukraine can be, and will be, negotiated only by the Ukrainian president,” Macron told reporters after a call with US President Donald Trump.

The US Trump will be seeking a ceasefire in Ukraine during the Putin meeting on Friday, which was “very important” and had “our support”, he continued.

 Macron further said, Trump would also be pushing for a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelensky in the future, adding that he hoped such a meeting could be held in Europe “in a neutral country that is acceptable to all parties”.

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The French president said that there were currently “no serious land swap proposals” on the table.