Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Europeans to "do more to guarantee peace" in his country, Agence France-Presse reported.
AFP notes that this came against the backdrop of tensions with the United States - a key ally for Ukraine, which this week began direct negotiations with Russia without its participation.
"Europe must and can do much more to guarantee peace... We have clear proposals with our European partners," Zelensky said last night in his evening video address. At the same time, he stressed that "this must be done in cooperation with America".
Tensions between Kiev and Washington have escalated in recent days, with US President Donald Trump sharply criticizing his Ukrainian counterpart, whom he even called "a dictator", going so far as to blame him for Russia's full-scale invasion of his country three years ago, AFP reports.
The United States also expects Ukraine to sign a currently negotiated agreement that would provide American companies with access to strategic minerals - the so-called rare earth elements - on its territory.
Zelensky rejected the initial version of the text, but yesterday indicated that the two countries "are working on a draft agreement". "I hope for a result - a fair result," he stressed, without giving details.