Ukraine Rejects US-Russia Peace Deal Without Its Involvement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that Ukraine will not accept any peace agreement between Moscow and Washington unless Kyiv is directly involved in the negotiations. He also emphasized the need for European nations to have a voice in discussions aimed at ending the war.
Speaking at a nuclear plant before departing for the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky’s remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump held a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and announced the initiation of talks.
“As an independent nation, we cannot accept any agreement that excludes us,” Zelensky told reporters.
Trump’s discussion with Putin, along with comments from his defense secretary suggesting that Ukraine’s NATO membership and a return to pre-2014 borders were unlikely, has raised concerns in Europe. There is growing fear that the White House might negotiate directly with Russia without consulting Ukraine or its European allies.
Zelensky warned against allowing Putin to dictate the terms of negotiations, insisting that Ukraine and the US must first establish a clear strategy before engaging with Russia.
The Ukrainian leader has been pushing for a meeting with Trump before any potential summit between the US and Russian presidents. However, Trump recently stated that he expects to meet Putin soon, possibly in Saudi Arabia.
While Ukraine is actively working on arranging a meeting between Zelensky and Trump, no official confirmation has been made.
Zelensky also clarified that NATO membership was not a topic of discussion during his recent call with Trump, though he acknowledged that Washington does not currently support Ukraine’s bid to join the alliance.
Addressing concerns over the timing of Trump’s call with Putin, Zelensky downplayed its significance, suggesting that it did not necessarily reflect a shift in US priorities. However, he admitted that being contacted after Putin was still “unpleasant.”
As the war approaches its third anniversary, Russia continues to control approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory and has been making gradual advances in the east. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces ongoing manpower shortages as it fights to hold strategic positions in western Russia.
