President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the first talks on ending the war will take place with US President-elect Donald Trump after his inauguration, and then with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin if the American leader offers "strong security guarantees for Ukraine".

Source : Zelenskyy in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman

Quote from Zelenskyy : "I think, on 25 January or some other day – well, you just called it 25 January, and I don’t mind, it’s my birthday – and we sit down, first of all, with Trump. We agree with him on how we can stop the war, stop Putin."

Details : Zelenskyy also stressed the importance of Europe also having a voice, "because Europe would be looking at us, and we’d be looking at Trump".

He noted that all European leaders always ask Zelenskyy about his conversations or meetings with Trump.

Zelenskyy emphasised that if the American leader offers strong security guarantees for Ukraine, then there may be a conversation with the Russians. "That's right, not just the three of us sitting down at once," he said.

Nevertheless, Zelenskyy suggested that Trump could be in a difficult political position if he achieves a ceasefire without providing Ukraine with relevant security guarantees.

In his opinion, this may resemble the situation Zelenskyy found himself in in 2019.

"Do not wait for Putin to want to stop the war. Pressure him so that he is forced to stop the war – that’s important," the Ukrainian president concluded.

It is worth noting that during the election campaign, Trump repeatedly boasted of his good relations with the Kremlin leader. He also repeatedly promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours if elected.

Background :

• Putin recently said during his annual press conference that he was "ready" for potential talks with Trump.
• Trump said on 23 December that the Russian leader had expressed a desire to meet with him as soon as possible to discuss the war in Ukraine.

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