Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Wednesday that he anticipates a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump later today to discuss the next steps in negotiations, following Trump’s recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The development comes amid ongoing efforts to broker a cease-fire in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, now in its fourth year since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin revealed that Putin had agreed to a limited cease-fire during his conversation with Trump, proposing a halt to attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. However, this falls short of a broader 30-day unconditional truce that Kyiv had previously accepted at the urging of Washington. That more comprehensive proposal, negotiated with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, would have paused hostilities across land, air, and sea — marking the first full cessation of fighting since the war began over three years ago.

Speaking at a news conference in Helsinki alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Zelensky expressed cautious openness to the limited cease-fire offer but emphasized that its success would require U.S. monitoring to ensure compliance. “If the Russians do not strike our facilities, we will definitely not strike theirs,” he stated, signaling a reciprocal approach to de-escalation.

The announcement underscores the deep mistrust between Ukraine and Russia, as both nations traded accusations on Wednesday of targeting each other’s energy infrastructure. The fragile diplomatic moment follows Zelensky’s earlier skepticism about Russia’s intentions. On Tuesday night, after the Trump-Putin call, he warned that Russia “is not ready to end this war,” accusing Moscow of using cease-fire talks to buy time to strengthen its military position and negotiating leverage.

Zelensky has repeatedly criticized some of Putin’s conditions for a broader truce — including demands for a complete end to foreign military and intelligence support for Ukraine — as unacceptable and designed to stall progress toward peace. He reiterated on Wednesday that Russia’s reluctance to commit to a meaningful first step suggests an unwillingness to pursue genuine negotiations.

The proposed 30-day truce, which Ukraine had endorsed, was intended to create a window for more extensive talks aimed at a lasting resolution. However, with the limited cease-fire now on the table, all eyes are on Zelensky’s upcoming discussion with Trump, which could shape the trajectory of the conflict as international mediators work to bridge the gap between the warring sides. (ILKHA)