The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky informed U.S. President Donald Trump during a phone call on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is merely pretending to seek negotiations for a peace agreement because he "fears you." This was reported to Axios by a Ukrainian official and three other sources familiar with the call.
"Zelensky's message to Trump was: 'You have leverage over Putin,'" said one source informed about the call.
Trump expressed support for the call for European peacekeeping forces, according to the sources. He also informed Zelensky about who would be part of the U.S. negotiating team.
It was noted that the phone conversation between Trump and Zelensky was positive and lasted about an hour, longer than Trump's call with Putin just prior.
The U.S. President told Zelensky that he understands his concerns about talking to Putin but emphasized that there is no other way if he wants his diplomatic efforts to succeed. Trump remarked:
"I need to talk to Putin to save Ukraine."
Trump also told Zelensky that Putin wants to make a deal and asked whether the Ukrainian leader still aims to reach one. Zelensky replied that he still wants to finalize a deal but thinks that Putin is just telling Trump what he wants to hear.
"Putin told you he wants to make a deal only because he fears you, because you are strong," Zelensky said.
Trump responded to the Ukrainian president that he might be right, but he has the impression that Putin is serious, adding that "we will find out soon."
The U.S. President told his Ukrainian counterpart that he understands Ukraine will need security guarantees as part of any future deal and that he thinks European peacekeeping forces along the front with Russia could be one of the solutions.
Trump indicated to Zelensky that his upcoming meeting with Vice President Pence and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Munich would be very important for launching the diplomatic process. Additionally, he asked Zelensky to appoint his own negotiating team.
Trump concluded the conversation by giving Zelensky his personal number and saying he could call him directly, to which Zelensky promised to send him the championship belt from Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk.
Trump's Conversations with Putin and Zelensky
Trump's phone calls with Putin and Zelensky on Wednesday marked the beginning of his diplomatic efforts to advance a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine and raised concerns among some NATO allies that Trump might back Zelensky into a corner by insisting on negotiations while simultaneously removing some of his likely demands.
While Trump told Zelensky that he had the impression Putin wants to make a deal, the Ukrainian president expressed a more skeptical view of his Russian counterpart's intentions. Zelensky also mentioned that he had not discussed the prospects of Ukraine's NATO membership with Trump.