In a sudden development, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has strongly advocated for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. This call followed his meeting in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The leaders gathered amidst mounting pressure on the international stage to address the ongoing conflict.
Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy and Macron was arranged on short notice, emphasizing the urgency felt by European leaders to secure continued support for Ukraine amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion. During the discussions, Trump claimed that striking a deal to end the conflict was something Kyiv desired, although specifics were not detailed.
In a subsequent post on his Truth Social platform, Trump asserted that both Moscow and Kyiv suffered extensive military casualties, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers lost in a war he believes “should never have started.” He emphasized the need for negotiations to commence, expressing that the war is unnecessarily claiming lives and causing families to suffer irreparable harm.
Zelenskyy, while characterizing the Paris talks as constructive, stressed the importance of any peace agreement being fair to Ukraine. “So that Russia and Putin or any other aggressors will not have the opportunity to return,” he remarked, highlighting Ukraine’s insistence on a resolution that safeguards its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Official casualty numbers from both sides remain scarce as neither Russia nor Ukraine are keen to disclose them. However, Western officials estimate that the intense battles in eastern Ukraine have led to substantial losses. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has lost 43,000 soldiers since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, with an additional 370,000 injured.
The Paris meeting, marked by symbolic gestures such as celebrating the reopening of Notre Dame, underscores the diplomatic balancing act faced by European leaders. They aim to maintain international alliances while urging de-escalation in a conflict that has severe humanitarian and geopolitical implications.
The call for an immediate ceasefire by President-elect Trump marks a pivotal moment in international diplomacy concerning the Ukraine conflict. As stakeholders search for viable paths to peace, the world watches closely, hoping for an end to the devastation.
Source: Apnews
