Zelensky Endorses Trump's Frontline Freeze Proposal While Doubting Putin's Acceptance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed support for US President Donald Trump's proposal to utilize the existing front line as a foundation for peace negotiations with Russia during his brief visit to Oslo on Wednesday.

Following his meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday, Zelensky recounted to reporters that Trump had suggested "Stay where we stay and begin conversation." The Ukrainian leader described this approach as "a good compromise," though he expressed skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness to accept such terms.

The conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, appears to have reached another impasse in peace efforts. Trump has recently advocated for both Moscow and Kyiv to halt hostilities along their current battle positions.

On Tuesday, Trump announced he had postponed plans for a summit with Putin in Budapest in the coming weeks, stating he wanted to avoid a "wasted" meeting. However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov contradicted this narrative on Wednesday, claiming that preparations for a Putin-Trump summit "are continuing."