Berlin: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that US President Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to offer Ukraine security guarantees. This statement was made during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy revealed that Trump communicated his support for reliable security assurances from the United States. This announcement followed a video conference that included Zelenskyy, Trump, Merz, and other European leaders. The leaders discussed five key principles aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The discussions occur just before Trump's scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Zelenskyy conveyed optimism that the meeting between Trump and Putin would prioritize an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. He reiterated that any discussions about Ukraine's territorial integrity should respect the country's sovereignty, its people, and constitutional provisions. Zelenskyy emphasized that his stance on the eastern Donbas region is firmly rooted in the Ukrainian Constitution, which remains unchanged.

He further argued for intensified sanctions against Russia should it refuse to agree to a ceasefire. Zelenskyy accused Putin of bluffing about the ineffectiveness of sanctions on Moscow and accused Russia of attempting to exert pressure in anticipation of the Alaska meeting. He claimed that Russia is trying to depict itself as having the capability to occupy all of Ukraine.

Additionally, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of preparing for a trilateral meeting with his US and Russian counterparts. He disclosed that Trump proposed further contact after the Alaska meeting to outline their subsequent steps. The upcoming Trump-Putin meeting marks the first encounter between sitting US and Russian presidents since the onset of the Ukraine conflict over three years ago.