Zelenskyy Demands Clarity After Trump-Putin Call, Sets 'Red Line' for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made his stance crystal clear following a phone call between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin: the recognition of Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories as Russian is a hard "red line" that he will not cross.

Trump revealed he spent nearly two hours discussing peace proposals with Putin, a conversation Zelenskyy plans to dissect during his own upcoming discussion with Trump. "We will discuss the details of the next steps with him," Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing that any recognition of occupied territories as Russian is simply "not on the table."

Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains dire. Despite claims of progress toward a ceasefire during the Trump-Putin call, Russian drone strikes continued overnight, hitting civilian areas and even damaging a hospital in Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s frustration is palpable as he insists that any negotiations must involve Ukraine directly. "Trying to negotiate without Ukraine, in my view, will not be productive," he said, underscoring the importance of transparency and inclusion in any peace talks.

On a brighter note, Zelenskyy confirmed the return of 175 Ukrainian soldiers through a prisoner exchange with Russia, calling it "one of the largest POW exchanges." He also revealed that an additional 22 soldiers were freed through other measures, including severely wounded warriors and individuals falsely accused by Russia. The emotional significance of this exchange cannot be overstated.

Trump, on his part, described his conversation with Putin as "very good and productive" on Truth Social, claiming that discussions about a "Contract for Peace" are now in motion. However, Putin reportedly stipulated that halting military aid to Ukraine is a condition for ending the war—a topic Trump says didn’t come up during their chat. "We didn’t talk about aid at all," he told Fox News. Well, either someone’s memory is hazy or the Kremlin has a creative imagination!

The White House issued a statement detailing the proposed framework for peace, starting with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire and moving toward maritime and full ceasefires in the Black Sea. The negotiations, intriguingly, are set to begin in the Middle East. Now, if that doesn't scream "complicated," I don't know what does.

As these peace efforts unfold, Zelenskyy’s warning remains a stark reminder of Ukraine’s uncompromising stance. With lives at stake and trust hanging by a thread, the world watches closely to see if this "peace process" is truly heading anywhere—or if it’s just another diplomatic merry-go-round.