Trump demands an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy and the Kremlin listed their demands after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump demanded on Sunday that peace and talks between Ukraine and Russia halt “the madness” immediately.

Just hours after seeing Zelenskiy in Paris for their first in-person encounter since Trump’s victory in the U.S. election last month, Trump made his remarks. Trump has promised to seek a settlement to the disagreement, but he hasn’t given any specifics yet.

Trump said on his social media page Truth Social, “Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness,” saying that Kyiv has lost almost 400,000 men. “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.”

“I’m familiar with Vladimir. He needs to take action now. China may be of assistance. The entire world is waiting. In reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump continued.

Trump and Zelenskiy met for around an hour on Saturday as Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron were in Paris for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Despite their handshakes and smiles, it was unclear how the meeting had progressed between Trump and Zelenskiy. According to the French and Ukrainian accounts of the meetings, they were only positive and fruitful.

Trump’s Sunday message prompted Zelenskiy to respond, stating that peace required assurances and was not only a paper.

“Effective peace guarantees must be the primary focus of any discussion about achieving a lasting peace with Russia. More than anybody else, Ukrainians desire peace,” he stated on X.

“Every armed actor on the ground upholds law and order, protects civilians, and maintains public institutions.”

A few signatures and a piece of paper won’t be enough to end the conflict. Without assurances, a truce might be rekindled at any time, as Putin has done previously. It is imperative that we secure peace and not ignore occupation in order to prevent losses for Ukrainians.

Trump claimed that 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and injured in the conflict. According to Zelenskiy, the conflict has claimed the lives of 43,000 soldiers and injured 370,000 more.

To respond to Trump’s remarks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov took reporters on a conference call.

Russia is amenable to negotiations, according to Peskov, but they must be grounded in the commitments made in Istanbul in 2022 and the present situation on the battlefield, where Russian forces are advancing at their quickest pace since the beginning of the conflict in 2022.

A tentative deal agreed between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators during meetings in Istanbul in the early weeks of the war, which was never put into effect, might provide the basis for future negotiations, Putin has stated on several occasions.

Peskov stated, “Our position on Ukraine is well known.”

“In June of this year, President Putin addressed the Russian Foreign Ministry, outlining the requirements for a quick halt to hostilities. Remembering that Ukraine was the one who initially rejected and still rejects talks is crucial,” he added.

In order to reach a peace agreement, Putin has stated that Ukraine must not join the NATO military alliance and that Russia should be allowed to fully rule the four Ukrainian areas that his soldiers currently partially govern.

Peskov stated that in order for negotiations to continue, Zelenskiy’s special edict prohibiting interactions with the Russian leadership would need to be lifted.