Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he will meet with Vladimir Putin on one condition
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says the only Russian official he is prepared to talk to is President Vladimir Putin, and he would only do so once Ukraine agreed on a common plan with the US and European leaders.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mr Zelenskiy said US President Donald Trump had given him his personal phone number and told him he could call any time he wanted.
“I will meet with only one Russian guy, with Putin, only after we will have common plan with Trump, Europe. And we will sit with Putin and stop the war. Only in this case I am ready to meet,” Mr Zelenskiy said in English.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.On the subject of his relationship with Mr Trump, who had his first conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart since assuming office on Wednesday, Mr Zelenskiy said the US president offered him his personal number.
“It was funny … He said ‘you can call me anytime you want’, I said to him yes, thank you so much. But previous time you said me that you can call me directly anytime and did not give me your phone number.
“He said — OK, right, you can call anytime.”
Mr Trump also spoke separately with Putin on Wednesday, and told US officials to begin talks on ending the nearly three-year-long conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The US president’s unilateral overture to Mr Putin raised alarm for both Kyiv and the European allies in NATO who said they feared the White House might make a deal without them.
