Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Photo: REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)

Speaking after his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C. the same day, Zelensky said he agreed with Trump’s call for Ukrainian and Russian forces to cease hostilities to pave the way for peace talks. He said that the first thing would be to “sit and speak” and the next step would be a ceasefire.

Zelensky expressed hope that the recent cease-fire deal brokered by the White House in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas could create momentum toward reaching an agreement to end the conflict in Ukraine.

During the meeting with Trump, Zelensky also suggested Ukraine could provide drones to the US in exchange for long-range Tomahawk missiles.