Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, said that the teams of U.S.-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will begin preparing for a meeting between both leaders. Sybiha, at a press conference in Kyiv with Josep Borrell, the chief diplomat of the European Union, said that “a dialogue between President Zelensky & President-elect Trump is already established.” Zelensky spoke with Trump by phone on November 6, following the Republican candidate’s victory in the U.S. presidential elections of 2024. Axios cited two sources to confirm that Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, was also present during the 25-minute phone call. Trump has praised Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, and questioned the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine. He has also promised that he will broker a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine. There is speculation that Trump could pressure Kyiv into ceding territory to Russia, or agreeing to Putin’s conditions. Lanza said, “When Zelensky claims that we will only stop the fighting and there will be peace when Crimea is returned, then we have some news for President Zelensky. Crimea is no more.” The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had already spoken to many European leaders and was “noncommittal about Ukraine” in those calls. He listened and asked questions, according to its sources. The Wall Street Journal reported that French President Emmanuel Macron urged Trump to make real concessions in any diplomacy he had with Russia about Ukraine during a 25-minute phone conversation. The Telegraph reported on November 7, citing three Trump employees, that the U.S. President-elect could ask British and European troops for help in enforcing a buffer zone he would like to impose on the current frontline in Ukraine. The Telegraph reported that under one of Trump’s peace plans, the front line in Ukraine could be frozen. According to the Telegraph, the U.S. will supply weapons to Ukraine in order to prevent Moscow from relaunching the war. The sources said that in exchange for Ukraine agreeing to not pursue its ambition to become a member of NATO for 20 years. Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants to end the war as quickly as possible. Ukraine’s leadership announced publicly that they plan to restore the country’s 1991 borders. This includes the liberation Crimea and parts in the Donbas occupied since 2014.
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