Trump demands immediate halt to Ukraine conflict, both Kyiv and Moscow outline terms

December 10, 2024

Updated: December 10, 2024

PARIS — The President-elect of the United States,⁢ Donald Trump, has urged an ⁣immediate cessation of hostilities and the commencement of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to put ‌an end to the ongoing conflict. This ⁣call has led ⁢to both ‌Ukrainian President‍ Volodymr Zelenskyy and the Kremlin outlining their respective ‌conditions.

Trump’s remarks came just a few hours ‍after his‍ inaugural meeting ⁣with Zelenskyy in Paris, following his victory ⁢in‌ the recent U.S. election. Trump⁢ has⁣ pledged to facilitate a negotiated ⁢resolution to the conflict, although he⁢ has yet to provide specific details on how he plans to achieve‌ this.

On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, “Zelensky and Ukraine are eager to strike a deal and put an⁣ end to the chaos,” noting ⁤that Kyiv has lost approximately‍ 400,000 soldiers. He‌ further emphasized the need ⁤for an immediate ceasefire ⁤and the start of negotiations.

Trump, who ⁤was in Paris⁣ for ‍the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, met with Zelenskyy for about an hour, ⁣in⁣ the ‌company of the ‍host President, Emmanuel Macron. While the two leaders exchanged pleasantries and ⁢handshakes, the ⁢details of their conversation remain⁣ undisclosed.⁢ Reports from the French and Ukrainian sides only indicate that the talks ‌were fruitful and productive.

Responding to Trump’s⁣ call for peace, Zelenskyy stressed that peace is not merely a signed document, but requires solid guarantees. “When we discuss effective peace with Russia, we must primarily focus on effective‌ guarantees for peace. Ukrainians desire peace more than anyone else,” ⁢he stated on X.

Zelenskyy ⁤further emphasized ‍that the war cannot simply⁣ conclude with a signed ‌document and a few signatures. He warned that a ceasefire without⁤ guarantees can be reignited at any moment, as has ⁤happened before under Putin’s regime. To ‍prevent ⁤further ⁤Ukrainian casualties, he insisted‌ on⁣ the need for ‍reliable peace guarantees and not ignoring ⁤the reality of occupation.

Trump’s ⁣claim of 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers lost in the war appears to‌ include both‍ casualties and injuries. Zelenskyy clarified that the war ⁣has claimed the lives ⁤of 43,000⁢ soldiers and left 370,000 wounded.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov held a conference call with reporters to address Trump’s comments. He stated that‍ Russia is open to negotiations, but they must be based on the agreements reached in Istanbul⁣ in 2022 and the⁢ current realities on the battlefield, where Russian forces have been advancing at their fastest pace since ‍the early days⁢ of the war‌ in 2022.

Peskov reiterated Putin’s stance that Ukraine⁢ must not join the NATO military alliance and that Russia should retain⁢ full control of four Ukrainian regions currently partially under its control for a peace⁢ deal to be reached.

Peskov also pointed out that Zelenskyy⁣ had‍ issued ‍a special decree banning contacts with the ‌Russian leadership, which he said would need to be revoked for talks to proceed.