Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several top European leaders held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump from Tirana on May 16, Zelensky announced in a social media post.

According to Zelensky, during the European Political Community summit in Tirana, he had a phone conversation with President Trump, joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

He wrote that the call focused on the first round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey, and emphasized that Ukraine is ready to take the swiftest possible steps to bring real peace.

“I spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, together with President Macron, Chancellor Merz, Prime Ministers Starmer and Tusk.

We discussed the meeting in Istanbul. Ukraine is ready for the swiftest possible steps in the name of real peace, and it’s crucial that the world maintains a firm stance. Our position: if the Russians refuse a full and unconditional ceasefire and to stop the killings, strong sanctions must be imposed. Pressure on Russia must continue until it is ready to end the war. Thank you to everyone in the world who is helping,” Zelensky wrote.