Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently praised former US President Donald Trump for being one of the only leaders feared by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following a meeting with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for unity and strong positions to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. He highlighted the importance of decisive action to achieve lasting peace, stating that only leaders like Trump and possibly China can instill fear in Putin.
Zelenskyy’s comments come amid discussions about lowering the draft age for Ukrainian troops. However, he emphasized the need to focus on equipping existing brigades and providing proper training, rather than relying on young soldiers to compensate for lack of resources. Zelenskyy also dismissed calls to lower the draft age, stating that the priority should be preserving lives and lowering Russia’s military potential.
Meanwhile, Trump has called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine. His strategy for achieving peace remains unclear, but there are concerns that it could involve cutting off military aid to Ukraine and ceding territory seized by Russian forces. Trump recently appointed retired general Keith Kellogg as his special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine war, who has proposed tying military aid to peace talks and offering relief from sanctions to Moscow in exchange for a peace agreement.
Zelenskyy has expressed openness to the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine as part of a deal to end the war, but stressed the need for a clear path towards EU and NATO membership. He reiterated the importance of focusing on equipment and training for existing troops, rather than lowering the draft age.
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