“Status quo remains” after Trump speaks with Putin, Zelenskyy’s aide says

Mykhailo Podoliak, Advisor to the Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, shared his opinion.

"Unfortunately, nothing has changed after the Trump-Putin phone call. Ukraine still offers the only real solution to end the war: an immediate and unconditional ceasefire that is full, long-term, and binding," he wrote. He also said that Europe fully supports Ukraine and understands the risks of the ongoing war and its long-term effects.

At the same time, Podoliak said the United States still sees Russia as a country that can negotiate and might want to end the war to protect its business interests.

However, he believes that Russia still clearly wants to keep fighting.

"Russia’s position hasn’t changed – it still wants war, destruction, and killing, because that’s the only way its current system can survive. Russia is not ready for a ceasefire and strongly refuses one. There’s also this constant push to ‘find the root causes of the war,’ even though the real cause is Russia’s unprovoked aggression," Podoliak said.

• On May 19, U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Trump said that Russia and Ukraine would immediately begin negotiations on a ceasefire and end the war. The U.S. president also spoke with Zelenskyy.