Mr. Zelensky revealed a 'productive' phone call with Mr. Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on August 5 that he had a "productive" phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump about ending the war, sanctions against Russia and finalizing a drone deal between the US and Ukraine.
“President Trump is fully informed about the Russian attacks on Kiev and other cities and communities,” Zelensky wrote on the X social network, referring to the increasing drone and missile attacks.
President Trump, who has expressed frustration with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, has set an August 8 deadline for the Russian president to restore peace in Ukraine or face tougher sanctions.
Sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Mr Putin was unlikely to comply with the ultimatum.
US envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Russian leaders in Moscow on Wednesday, a source in Washington said.
In his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said Mr Trump “knows the situation along the front line” stretching 1,000km through eastern and southern Ukraine.
Ukraine has long supported US proposals for an immediate ceasefire and has proposed some form of implementation of the cessation of fighting, he said.
Mr Trump has threatened to impose new sanctions on Russia and impose 100% tariffs on countries that buy its oil.
Mr. Zelensky also said that Ukraine was ready to sign an agreement with the United States on the purchase of Ukrainian drones, which would create "one of the strongest agreements".
He previously said the deal was worth about $30 billion. Ukraine is increasingly seeking funding and investment from foreign partners to boost its domestic arms industry.
Mr Zelensky said Kiev's European partners had so far pledged to buy more than $1 billion in US weapons for Ukraine as part of a new plan.