During a recent meeting in Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former US President Donald Trump discussed a range of issues, including the imposition of sanctions on Russia’s energy sector and the cancellation of a planned meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest. The decision to cancel the meeting in Hungary reportedly followed discussions on the implications of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the potential for further diplomatic engagement with Moscow. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia through economic measures, highlighting the energy sector as a key target for sanctions due to its role in supporting the Russian military effort.
Both leaders acknowledged the challenges of coordinating international responses to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, with Zelenskyy expressing concerns about the lack of a unified stance among NATO allies. Trump, while not making public statements on the matter, reportedly supported the sanctions as a means of deterring further aggression. The cancellation of the meeting with Putin has been interpreted as a signal of the United States’ continued commitment to supporting Ukraine, despite the complexities of diplomatic negotiations with Russia.