Zelensky speaks with Trump, says talks should lead to leaders’ meeting with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that he and US President Donald Trump agreed that the next session of trilateral talks in March on a War settlement should lead to a meeting of the countries’ leaders.Zelensky, speaking after a phone conversation with Trump, said the three-sided talks with Russia and the United States would take place early next month. US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also took part in the ‌phone call.“We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders’ level. President Trump supports this sequence of steps,” Zelensky said on social media.“This is the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the War.”The telephone call took place on the eve of another meeting, between just Ukrainian and US negotiators, to discuss post-War reconstruction.Ukrainian servicemen aim at a Russian drone near Druzhkivka in Donetsk Oblast, in an image released on Wednesday. Photo: Press service of the 93rd Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces via AFPZelensky said the two leaders discussed both meetings. He thanked the United States for its “active involvement” in the peace process and for missiles for air-defence systems that were helping Ukraine endure wintertime attacks.