Trump calls for deal to end Ukraine war, plans talks with Putin and Zelenskyy

Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump emphasized the need for diplomacy, stating, 'Gotta make a deal.'

December 17, 2024 01:29 AM IST

2 min read

Democrats currently control the Senate, and Democratic President Joe Biden remains in power until Trump takes office on Jan 20. (AP photo)

US President-elect Donald Trump has called for a negotiated settlement to end the Ukraine war, which has persisted for nearly three years. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump emphasised the need for diplomacy, stating, “Gotta make a deal.”

Trump announced his intention to speak with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to broker peace. He said, “It’s got to stop.”

However, he avoided specifying whether Ukraine should cede territory to Russia as part of the deal. While Trump claims to have a “very good plan” to end the war, he declined to share details, arguing that publicizing it prematurely could undermine its effectiveness. His comments come as Zelenskyy’s administration signals hesitancy toward talks, citing insufficient weapons and security guarantees.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, stated that Ukraine is “not yet ready” for negotiations with Russia, though Zelenskyy has expressed a willingness to collaborate with Trump. “Of course, we will work with Trump. I want to work with him directly,” Zelenskyy said in a recent interview, reaffirming Kyiv’s reliance on US support.

Also Read: | Trump adviser says priority in Ukraine is peace, not return of territory

The war, triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has left cities in ruins and caused immense human suffering.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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