Donald Trump will invite Volodymyr Zelensky back to the White House after Ukraine agreed to a proposed ceasefire with Russia.
Mr Trump said he expects to speak to Russian leader Vladimir Putin later this week and he hopes Moscow will agree to the terms.
Following Tuesday’s talks between Ukraine and the US. the two nations said in a joint statement that the White House would “immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine”.
The statement added that Kyiv had also “expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation.”
“The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace.”
Speaking to reporters following the talks, Mr Trump said: “Ceasefire… Ukraine has agreed to it, and hopefully Russia will agree to it.”
Mr Trump added that he hopes the ceasefire will take effect “over the next few days” and he will speak to Mr Putin this week as it “takes two to tango”.
Asked whether Mr Zelensky was invited back to the White House, Mr Trump said: “Sure, absolutely”.
The Ukrainian president’s visit to Washington last month ended in a diplomatic disaster after an Oval Office meeting between the two leaders descended into a shouting match.
Appearing to refer to Mr Zelensky’s last White House visit, Mr Trump said: “I think it’s a big difference between the last visit you saw in the Oval Office, and this.”
Mr Zelensky confirmed he had accepted the US proposal for a “complete” 30-day truce.
“Ukraine accepts this proposal, we consider it positive, we are ready to take such a step. The United States of America must convince Russia to do this,” he said.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
