Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed doubts about the forthcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cast doubt over the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, cautioning that any peace agreement which sidelines Kyiv is doomed to fail.
The meeting, set for Friday in Alaska, is being seen as a potentially pivotal moment. Zelenskyy, who voiced his concerns via a Telegram post on Saturday, warned that shutting Ukraine out of peace talks would only result in “dead solutions.”
Despite Trump demonstrating willingness to engage with Putin without committing to discussions with Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader stressed the vital importance of his country’s participation, underlining Ukraine’s territorial integrity as a core principle enshrined in its constitution. It comes after Donald Trump accused of ‘throwing shade’ at Prince Harry and Meghan with cryptic quip.
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Zelenskyy’s remarks highlight fears that direct dialogue between Trump and Putin could undermine both Kyiv’s and Europe’s interests, emphasising that “Any solutions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time, solutions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead solutions, they will never work.”, reports the Mirror US.
In behind-the-scenes conversations, Ukrainian officials had previously indicated to the Associated Press that they might potentially embrace a peace deal acknowledging Ukraine’s limited prospects of reclaiming lost territory through military means.
Trump has expressed his eagerness to meet with Putin to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict, reports the Express US. Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, has suggested that a summit between the leaders of Russia and the US could take place in Alaska.
“It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska,” he said in a statement released on the Kremlin’s news channel.
This meeting could be a turning point in a conflict that started over three years ago when Russia invaded its western neighbour, leading to tens of thousands of casualties. However, there is no guarantee it will end the violence as Moscow and Kyiv are still at odds over their peace terms.
Trump disclosed that his meeting with Putin would precede any direct talks with Zelenskyy. His decision to invite one of America’s adversaries onto U.S. soil marked a departure from expectations they would meet in a neutral country.
This strategy gives Putin credibility after the U.S. and its allies have spent years trying to isolate him due to his campaign in Ukraine. Trump, frustrated that Putin ignored his pleas to halt the bombing of Ukrainian cities, upped the ante nearly a fortnight ago with the threat of additional sanctions on Russia and secondary tariffs on nations purchasing Russian oil if the Kremlin didn’t work towards a resolution.