President Donald Trump has called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris. Trump stated that both sides have suffered enormous losses in the war and that negotiations should begin to end the conflict. Zelenskyy described the discussions with Trump as constructive but emphasized the need for just and robust peace guarantees to prevent Russia from destroying Ukraine. Trump also made a connection between the situation in Syria and Russia’s war in Ukraine, suggesting that Assad’s ousting could lead to an end to fighting in Ukraine. Additionally, Trump hinted at the possibility of reducing aid to Ukraine and potentially pulling out of NATO if member countries are not paying their bills or treating the US fairly. He refused to confirm if he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since winning the election in November. The calls for a ceasefire and negotiations come amidst increasing tensions in the region and a recognition within Zelenskyy’s inner circle that negotiations may soon be necessary, with fears that without solid security guarantees from the West, a ceasefire would be meaningless. Trump’s statements have raised questions about the future of US involvement in the conflict and in NATO as a whole.
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