PARIS: US President-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is ready for a deal to end the war with Russia.
“Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform after a meeting with Zelensky, just before both attended the re-opening ceremony of the Notre Dame cathedral.
“There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse,” said Trump.
In Ukraine, there is concern that Trump may urge domestically unpopular concessions to bring about peace. Zelensky insisted any settlement with Russia had to be equitable.
“We all want peace. But it is very important for us… that the peace is just for all of us and that Russia, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin or any other aggressor has no possibility of ever returning,” Zelensky said according to the presidential website.
“And this is the most important thing — a just peace and security guarantees, strong security guarantees for Ukraine,” he added.
US announces nearly $1 billion in Ukraine aid
Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine.
“The troubles of our times will only grow worse without strong and steady American leadership,” Austin said in his fourth consecutive appearance at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California.
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The package, includes more drones and ammunition for a rocket system, brings the total US security assistance to Ukraine to $62 billion since the war started nearly three years ago.
Russia has suffered more than 700,000 battlefield casualties since the war began, Austin said, and “squandered” more than $200 billion.
The US has led a coalition of countries to arm and equip Ukraine’s military since February 2022, and Austin said it would be a mistake to abandon Kyiv.
