Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday touted new momentum toward ending the country’s war with Russia after a high-level call with President Donald Trump\u2019s envoys, pointing to progress on a U.S.-backed security deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zelenskyy announced in an X post that he and his officials had a “positive” conversation with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with talks centered around forging a “dignified peace.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We agreed to strengthen security guarantees, and I have already instructed our team to promptly update the documents so that the security guarantees for Ukraine are strong, the prospects for post-war reconstruction are real, and everything is doable,” Zelenskyy wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasized Ukraine needs clear agreements so that its citizens understand exactly how international partners will respond to deter any renewed Russian aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We need strong, shared positions, and Ukraine\u2019s contribution to this strength is unquestionable,” Zelenskyy wrote. “\u2026 I expect that the teams will work substantively in the coming days so that we can all feel progress. A trilateral format \u2014 a leaders\u2019 format \u2014 all of this is necessary.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a subsequent video, Zelenskyy reported Russia launched a massive wave of more than 700 drones Wednesday, including “shaheds,” targeting Ukraine’s energy sites, food warehouses and residential buildings across multiple regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although Ukrainian forces intercepted roughly 90% of the incoming drones, Zelenskyy condemned the bombardment as Russia’s direct response to Ukraine’s proposal for an Easter ceasefire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He noted that a halt in fighting during the holidays was intended to be a signal that diplomacy could be successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the U.S. and Europe, Zelenskyy said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is working to secure long-term defense contracts with several Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain and Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n