Davos, Switzerland, January 22: U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. The ongoing war in Ukraine was a central topic during the hour-long closed-door discussion, which concluded with both leaders offering brief comments to the press.
Following the meeting, Zelenskyy’s communications advisor described the conversation as a "good meeting." Trump echoed the sentiment, noting that while the discussion was productive, much work remains in bringing an end to the war with Russia. "The war has to end," Trump stated. "We hope it's going to end. There are a lot of people being killed."
Reports indicate that the diplomatic talks are nearing a critical juncture, with negotiations focusing on a singular, unresolved issue. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN that the main point of contention pertains to territorial concerns, a sentiment confirmed by a European official. As the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting wrapped up, attention shifted to the next phase of the peace process, which will likely involve upcoming talks between U.S. officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump emphasized the ongoing nature of these efforts. "Everybody wants to have the war end," he said.
In addition to his discussions with Zelenskyy, Trump used his appearance at Davos to unveil his "Board of Peace" initiative. At a signing ceremony for the new body’s charter, Trump hailed the initiative as a major step toward global conflict resolution. “We’re going to have peace in the world,” he declared. “It’s a very exciting day, long in the making.” He also suggested that the world is stabilizing, claiming that many global threats are “calming down.”
Trump tied the initiative to his broader diplomatic efforts, highlighting his administration’s role in mediating conflicts, including progress toward resolving the Russia-Ukraine war. "We have a lot of great people who want to join," Trump said, defending the inclusion of leaders such as Putin, whom he believes could play a key role in bringing peace.
The former U.S. president also pointed to his diplomatic outreach with Iran and his involvement in securing the Israel-Hamas ceasefire as evidence of the initiative's potential. “If we didn’t do that, there was no chance of making peace,” he argued.
As Zelenskyy’s participation in Davos continued, Trump expressed his frustration over the prolonged conflict, urging both Russia and Ukraine to find common ground. "I believe they're at a point now where they can come together and get a deal done," Trump said. “And if they don’t, they’re stupid — that goes for both of them.” (ANI )
