U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine war within “24 hours” once in office.
Kyiv, Ukraine:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude on Tuesday for Donald Trump’s “strong resolve” to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, following a meeting with the U.S. president-elect in Paris last week.
French President Emmanuel Macron facilitated three-way talks at the Elysee Palace on Saturday, with Zelensky and Trump discussing Ukraine’s future amid concerns in Kyiv about the level of support it will receive from the incoming U.S. administration.
“The most important thing is to collaborate on how to end this war — that remains our top priority. This was the focus of our discussions in Paris,” Zelensky wrote in a post on social media platform X early Tuesday.
“I once again express my thanks to President Macron for organizing the meeting, and my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his firm determination to bring this war to a just conclusion,” the Ukrainian leader continued.
Trump has consistently stated that he could resolve the nearly three-year-long conflict in “24 hours” once in office, causing concern in Ukraine that it may be pressured into making significant territorial concessions for peace.
On Sunday, the Republican urged for an “immediate ceasefire,” posting on his Truth Social platform that Zelensky was willing to “make a deal and stop the madness.”
Zelensky also dismissed calls to lower the draft age, following reports that U.S. officials wanted Ukraine to broaden its pool of fighting-age men to include 18-year-olds.
“We must prioritize equipping our existing brigades and training personnel to effectively use this equipment. We should not address the lack of equipment and training by relying on the youth of soldiers,” he stated in the same post on Tuesday.
