Zelenskiy Spoke with Trump Ahead of Peace Deal Deadline

Asharq Al-Awsat

2 days ago

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that he had had a "productive" conversation with his US counterpart Donald Trump on ending the war, sanctions on Russia and the finalization of a US-Ukraine drone deal.
Trump, who has signaled frustration with Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, has given the Russian president until August 8 to make peace in Ukraine or face tougher sanctions.
"President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities," Zelenskiy wrote on X, referring to intensifying drone and missile attacks.
Trump has threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions and impose 100% tariffs on countries that buy its oil, but sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Putin was unlikely to bow to the ultimatum.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine was also ready to conclude a deal with the US on the purchase of Ukrainian drones that would amount to "one of the strongest agreements". He had earlier said the deal was worth around $30 billion.
Ukraine is increasingly seeking financing and investment from its foreign partners to bolster its burgeoning domestic arms industry.
Zelenskiy said Kyiv's European partners had so far pledged to buy more than $1 billion in US weapons for Ukraine as part of a new scheme.