Statements from European leaders, credible news reports

Zelenskyy to Seek Air Defense Boost at Germany Summit, Plans Jan. 25 Meeting With Trump to End War

Jan 5, 2025, 09:40 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to urge allies to boost Ukraine's air defenses at an upcoming meeting this week at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration later this month, Zelenskyy expressed confidence in Trump's ability to swiftly end the nearly three-year war with Russia. He highlighted Trump's significant influence among European leaders, noting, "When I talk about something with Donald Trump, all the European leaders always ask, 'How was it?' This shows the influence of Donald Trump, and this has never happened before with an American president." Zelenskyy stated that he intends to meet with Trump on January 25 to discuss strategies for stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin and securing strong security guarantees for Ukraine. He emphasized that such guarantees would only be effective if provided by the United States. Zelenskyy added that peace is now a real possibility thanks to Trump's leadership. Both Ukrainian and Russian sources reported that Kyiv's forces have pressed new attacks in Russia's Kursk region, underscoring the urgency of bolstering Ukraine's defenses.