It’s Time to Increase Pressure: What Will Trump Decide

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump shortly after the conclusion of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul, Reuters reports.

Zelensky stated that the leaders discussed the negotiations that had taken place. He noted that Ukraine is ready to "take steps as quickly as possible" towards real peace. "Our position is that if the Russians refuse a complete and unconditional ceasefire, there must be strict sanctions. Pressure on Russia should continue until it is ready to stop the war," the Ukrainian president said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, following the conversation with Trump, declared that the Russian side "effectively halted the negotiations and refused to cease fire." "It’s time to increase pressure," he added.

In turn, Keir Starmer stated that "the Russian position is unacceptable, and this is not the first time." A Ukrainian diplomatic source told Reuters that the demands put forth by Russia during the Istanbul negotiations are "unrealistic" and exceed what was previously discussed. Member of Parliament Oleksiy Honcharenko claims that Russia has demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from "all the regions that it has added to its constitution."