Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, October 22nd expressed support for U.S. president Donald Trump’s proposal to use the current front line as the basis for negotiations with Russia.
Trump “proposed ‘Stay where we stay and begin conversation,’” Zelensky told reporters during a brief visit to Oslo, Norway. “I think that was a good compromise, but I’m not sure that Putin will support it, and I said it to the president,” he added.
The proposal comes after previous talks between the two leaders, including a summit in Alaska in August, which did not result in an agreement. In recent days, Trump has encouraged both sides to consider halting the conflict along the existing front lines as a starting point for discussions.
Trump announced last week that he planned a second round of talks in Budapest, but on Tuesday he decided to shelve the plan, saying he did not want a “wasted” meeting.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that preparations for a summit between Putin and Trump “are continuing,” according to the state TASS news agency, without providing further details.
