Vladimir Putin issued a sharp warning for Ukraine on Saturday — contending that Russia would accomplish its goals “by military means” if peace talks failed. The remarks came ahead of talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump in Florida amid continued efforts to end the war. The US President had also opined a day earlier that things were “going to go good” with Vladimir Putin and hinted at plans to speak with the Russian leader “soon and as much as I want”. The POTUS has repeatedly insisted that any peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia would require his “approval”.
“If the Kiev authorities do not want to resolve the matter peacefully, we will accomplish all the tasks before us in the course of the special military operation by military means,” the state-run TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying.
Moscow also launched a massive attack using ballistic missiles and drones on Saturday — killing at least one person and wounding 27 in Kyiv. Zelensky subsequently dubbed Putin a “man of war” as he met with Canada’s Mark Carney and other leaders from NATO and the European Union.
What have Trump and Zelensky said?
The American President is slated to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart in Florida on Sunday amid continued efforts to end the war. Zelensky told reporters that a 20-point peace plan under discussion was “about 90% ready”. He said a security guarantee agreement between Ukraine and the US was almost ready – a key element after guarantees in earlier post-Soviet years proved meaningless.
“He doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got…I have Zelenskyy and I have Bibi coming. They’re all coming. They all come. They respect our country again,” Trump told Politico during an interview on Friday.
He also teased the possibility of talks with his Russian counterpart “soon” and opined that the interaction would go well. Zelenskyy had indicated that the meeting with Trump would focus on ironing out a deal to end nearly four years of war.
Zelenskyy calls Putin ‘a man of war’
The Ukrainian leader dubbed Putin a “man of war” as he met with Canada’s Mark Carney and other leaders from NATO and the European Union on Saturday evening.
“We want peace. And he’s a man of war,” Zelensky said.
He made the stop in Canada amid preparations for talks with Trump on Sunday afternoon. Zelensky is expected to present a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long conflict. Trump has earlier stated that any peace proposal would require his “approval.” The Ukrainian President also held discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and leaders from NATO and the European Union during the stopover.