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Posted on 02/13/2025 10:48:53 AM PST by marcusmaximus
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky told President Trump during a phone call on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is only pretending to want to negotiate a peace deal because he is "afraid of you," a Ukrainian official and three other sources with knowledge of the call tell Axios.
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Behind the scenes: Three sources said the call between Trump and Zelensky was positive and went on for about an hour, longer than the call Trump had with Putin immediately before.
Trump told Zelensky that he understands his concerns about him talking to Putin, but stressed there is no way around it if he wants his diplomatic efforts to be successful.
"I need to talk to Putin in order to save Ukraine," Trump told Zelensky, according to the sources.
The intrigue: Trump also told Zelensky Putin wants a deal, and asked if Zelensky is still committed to getting one.
Zelensky replied that he still wants a deal, but that he thinks Putin is just telling Trump what he wants to hear.
"Putin told you he wants a deal only because he is afraid of you, because you are strong," Zelensky told Trump, according to the sources.
Trump told the Ukrainian president that he could be right, but his impression was that Putin is serious. "We will know soon," Trump added, according to two of the sources.
Zoom in: The U.S. president told his Ukrainian counterpart that he understands Ukraine will need security guarantees as part of any future deal, and that he thinks a European peacekeeping force along the front with Russia could be one solution, the sources said.
(Excerpt) Read more at axios.com ...
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As Pooty-Poot should be.
There will be an audit when all is said and done.
The Ukrainian pygmy doesn't realize Trump is inured to such feeble flattery.
You need to starting facing reality.
Tromp stronk like bool.
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