Rs 7875000000000: Zelenskyy says Ukraine to buy US weapons amid push for security guarantees, Europe to share costs

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his talks with US President Donald Trump and European leaders at the White House focused on a plan for Ukraine to buy about USD 90 billion worth of American weapons, with Europe helping to fund the deal. He explained that this would be part of the security guarantees for Ukraine.

Zelensky also mentioned that Ukraine may start making drones, and some of these would be bought by the US. He stressed that the plan is still being discussed and no final deal has been signed yet. According to him, the agreement could be completed within the next week or so.

A report in a leading newspaper said that a document shared with allies outlines a $50 billion plan for Ukraine to build drones with American partners.

This proposal was circulated before President Zelensky’s meeting with Donald Trump at the White House. It highlights Kyiv’s strategy of framing the deal in a way that matches Trump’s focus on economic gains for US industries.

When asked about future aid, Trump told reporters, “We’re not giving anything. We’re selling weapons.”

The document also makes it clear that peace should not come from making concessions or offering gifts to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but from creating a strong security system that can stop future attacks.

Ukraine rejects Russia’s offer to withdraw troops from Donetsk and Luhansk

Ukraine has turned down a Russian offer to freeze the frontline in return for withdrawing troops from parts of Donetsk and Luhansk, saying such a deal could give Moscow an opening to advance further into the country.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who spoke in Washington alongside Zelensky and Trump, stressed that a ceasefire must come before any new talks. “I can’t imagine the next meeting happening without a ceasefire,” he said, urging stronger pressure on Russia.

Ukraine’s proposal also demands that Moscow pay for the damage caused by the war, possibly using USD 300 billion in frozen Russian assets currently held in Western countries. It further says that any easing of sanctions should only happen if Russia fully follows the terms of a peace deal.

These proposals came shortly after Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska, where Trump said there had been “great progress,” though no agreement was reached to end the war.

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