Zelenskyy on Trump Putin’s top: “He talks about us, without us, will not work” for Ukraine

Russia has indicated to the United States that it may be ready to end the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Voludmir Zelinski He told reporters on Tuesday.

“We have received an invitation with President Trump and with some European leaders. During the invitation, there was a sign from Mr. Witkeov, who was also on the call, that Russia was ready to end the war – ready for a first step, at least, towards a ceasefire.” “This is the first such signal.”

However, Zelinski also warned that “he talks about us, without us, will not work”, before President Trump’s individual summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. It is scheduled for Friday.

A spokesman for the Zelinski office told CBS News on Tuesday that the invitation that included Zellinsky, Mr. Trump and Wikkov was held last week.

While Zelinski said that “everyone on the call” encouraged what was seen as “turning” as Russia, the Ukrainian leader said that Ukraine would not withdraw its forces from the Donbas region that Russia has occupied in eastern Ukraine.

“Our regions are illegally busy. For Russians, Donbas is a starting point for a new attack in the future. If we leave Donbas on its own or under pressure, we will call a third war,” Zelinski said.

The summit between Mr. Trump and Putin is the first personal meeting between Putin and an American president sitting since Russia has invaded Ukraine. It was described as a “listening exercise” by the White House press secretary Caroline Levitte on Tuesday.

“There will be one party involved in this war only, and so is that the president goes and gets, again, more severe and better for how we hope we will finish this war,” Levitte said.

Putin is widely expected to demand that Ukrainian forces be withdrawn from all over the Donbas region in Ukraine – which has been held by Russian forces since the inclusion of Crimea 2014 in the country. After Russia Widespread From Ukraine in 2022, the area outside the Russian occupation increased, although the Ukrainian forces are currently holding lands in parts of Donetsk, a province located inside Donbas.

Before the meeting of Mr. Trump with Putin, the Zelinski office spokesman confirmed to CBS News that he will attend a virtual meeting on Wednesday With Mr. Trump and European leaders To discuss the war.

Speaking to the correspondents in the White House briefing room on Monday, Mr. Trump expressed optimism that his meeting with Putin would be “constructive”, and he said that he was planning to create a personal meeting that includes Putin and Zelinski.

“The next meeting will be with Zelinski, Putin, Zelinski, Putin and I,” said Mr. Trump.

Two sources were informed of those negotiations CBS News on Tuesday that the United States is working on a site to attend the Trump -Potin -Zelinski meeting as soon as next weekend.

But Zelinski was insisting on his statements on Tuesday that no such meeting should happen without the involvement of European leaders.

He said: “The presence of Europe in one way or another is very important, because in the end, until now, Europe has not provided us with security guarantees.”

As for Mr. Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska, Zellinski said that the meeting will only benefit one person – the Russian leader.

“I think Putin will benefit from this, because what he is looking for, frankly, is photographs. He needs a copy of a meeting with President Trump,” Zellinski said. “Ukrainian issues should be discussed by at least three parties.”

Jennifer Jacobs

He contributed to this report.