Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine as Biden pledges more US aid
US President-elect Donald Trump has called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations between Ukraine and Russia as he seeks to bring an end to the war.
Mr Trump, who was speaking after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, said both sides should pursue a deal to halt the violence.
His call for a ceasefire came after the Biden administration announced a new military assistance package for Ukraine, valued at nearly $1bn
On his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump wrote "Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness" adding that Kyiv had lost approximately 400,000 soldiers.
He also urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to act now, suggesting China's involvement in facilitating the process.
"This is his time to act. China can help. The world is waiting!" he said.
Mr Trump's push for a negotiated settlement came amid the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, where he, Mr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron held a one-hour discussion.
However, Mr Zelensky responded swiftly to Mr Trump's ceasefire call, stressing the importance of ensuring that any peace agreement includes reliable guarantees.
In a post on X, Mr Zelensky said peace had to be more than just a piece of paper.
"When we talk about effective peace with Russia, we must first and foremost talk about effective guarantees for peace. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else," he said.
The Ukrainian leader also stated that 43,000 soldiers had been killed in the war, with 370,000 others wounded, a far cry from Mr Trump's figure of 400,000.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Mr Trump's comments, noting that Russia's peace conditions include Ukraine not entering Nato and the recognition of Russian control over four Ukrainian regions.
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