On Thursday, President Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine would not accept any peace agreement between Moscow and Washington regarding its future without Kyiv’s participation.
He emphasized the need for Europe to be included in the negotiations to resolve the war.
The comments came after a call between U.S. President Trump and Russian President Putin, which raised concerns in Europe that the U.S. might strike a deal with Russia without consulting Ukraine.
Zelenskiy asserted that Ukraine, as an independent nation, could not accept any decisions made without its involvement. He expressed alarm over Putin’s efforts to make the negotiations a bilateral affair with the U.S. alone. Zelenskiy stressed the importance of Ukraine and the U.S. working together on a plan to end the war before engaging with Russia.
The Ukrainian leader had been seeking a meeting with Trump before Trump meets Putin, although the U.S. president mentioned he would likely meet Putin in Saudi Arabia in the future.
Zelenskiy noted that NATO membership was not discussed during his call with Trump, although he acknowledged the U.S. opposition to it.
As the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches, Zelenskiy downplayed the significance of Trump’s call with Putin, calling it “unpleasant” but not a reflection of Washington’s true priorities.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to control a significant portion of Ukraine, and Kyiv struggles with manpower shortages as it defends its territory.
