Trump-Zelenskyy talks: Ukraine has proposed a $100 billion deal to buy American weapons, the costs of which will be covered by Europe. As per reports, the deal was proposed in return for firm US security guarantees, once a peace deal with Russia is reached.
A document reviewed by the newspaper shows that Kyiv also proposed a separate $50 billion deal with US companies to jointly produce drones. The plan was shared with European allies before Ukrainian President Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump at the White House, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Click here key updates about the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting.
Ukrainian pitch for safety
This came as a direct appeal to Trump’s desires to benefit from these talks, in trade. Amid his ongoing tariff frenzy, this deal is set to make, if fortified, US the military aide for Ukraine. Commenting on this potential move, Trump noted that the US was not “giving anything,” merely “selling weapons.”
This $100 billion deal also plays in the background of Trump’s gradual alignment with Russia, on ending the war, following his meeting with Putin in Alaska. During which Ukraine’s call for a ceasefire failed to gain the attention of the world leaders.
As per a document accessed by FT, with details of Ukraine’s $100 billion deal with Trump, mentioned, “lasting peace shall be based not on concessions and free gifts to Putin, but on [a] strong security framework that will prevent future aggression”.
Furthermore, the report also revealed that Kyiv rejected Putin’s proposal to freeze the Ukrainian frontline in case of a withdrawal. However, the Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin did not end in a concrete conclusion.
Trump talks with Zelenskyy
Following the meeting with Ukraine and European leaders on Monday, Trump acknowledged the “security guarantees for Ukraine” in a post on social media. While affirming European involvement, he commented on the potential trilateral talks between Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy.
Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor and part of Zelenskyy’s European “bodyguard” team in Washington, revealed briefly the details about Trump’s call with Putin. The US President, reportedly, agreed to set up a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders within the next two weeks, while the location remains undisclosed.