Russian authorities and state-run media expressed exuberance on Thursday following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a peace resolution for the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has persisted for almost three years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly stated that any negotiations concerning Ukraine should include his country as a participant. In a similar vein, European governments also insisted on being part of the discussions.
Trump’s noticeable shift in policy appeared to position Putin as the pivotal figure in ending the conflict, marginalizing both Zelenskyy and European nations from potential peace dialogues. Zelenskyy recently characterized this situation as “very dangerous.”
Since the onset of the conflict in February 2022, the West has largely shunned Putin, particularly after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him in 2023 for alleged war crimes.
Trump’s declaration sparked significant diplomatic shifts that could serve as a turning point for Ukraine and Europe.
Russian officials celebrate Putin’s elevated status
Following a phone call between Trump and Putin that exceeded an hour, Russian officials and pro-Kremlin media celebrated the development on Thursday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that the stance of the current U.S. administration is “much more appealing.”
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chair of the Russian National Security Council, described the conversation between the two leaders as a crucial step in global diplomacy.
Senior lawmaker Alexei Pushkov commented that this call would be historically significant in terms of global politics.
Pushkov also expressed confidence that leaders in Kyiv, Brussels, Paris, and London were currently taken aback by Trump’s statements regarding his dialogue with Putin.
The Russian state agency RIA Novosti opined that the U.S. had definitively undermined Zelenskyy, indicating that Trump had established common ground with Putin, suggesting that the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” has been dismissed.
Komsomolskaya Pravda, a pro-Kremlin tabloid, went so far as to assert in a headline that Trump had effectively signed “Zelenskyy’s death sentence.”
Zelenskyy views talks without Ukraine as unacceptable
In his remarks to the media after Trump’s private discussions with both Putin and himself, Zelenskyy acknowledged the discomfort of Trump prioritizing dialogue with Putin. However, he emphasized the necessity of preventing any outcome that would facilitate Putin’s agenda.
“We cannot accept it, as an independent country, any agreements (made) without us,” Zelenskyy stated while visiting a nuclear power plant in western Ukraine.
He further divulged that Trump expressed a desire to speak to both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders simultaneously during their conversation.
Zelenskyy reassured that Trump did not label Putin and Russia as prioritized topics in their discussions. He underscored the importance of maintaining U.S. support.
Concern among European nations and NATO
Trump’s apparent willingness to negotiate without the involvement of Ukraine and its European allies has raised alarms across Europe.
This new approach could jeopardize Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership, which had recently been described as an irreversible step, as well as its hopes of reclaiming territories currently under Russian control, which amounts to nearly 20% of Ukraine.
The U.S. administration’s strategy aligns closely with Russia’s vision for a resolution, stirring unease within NATO and the European Union.
Some European countries, fearing they might also become targets of Kremlin aggression, expressed the urgent need for inclusion in any negotiations.
“Ukraine, Europe and the United States should work on this together. TOGETHER,” tweeted Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, reiterated that any agreement made without involving key stakeholders would be ineffective.
Others reacted skeptically to Trump’s optimistic tone regarding negotiations.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna insisted on maintaining Western unity and increasing support for Ukraine while exerting pressure on Russia, stating, “Our actions must show that we are not changing course.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz supported Trump’s outreach to Putin but noted that any imposed peace would lack European backing.
“We also will not accept any solution that leads to a decoupling of American and European security,” Scholz asserted, warning that only Putin would benefit from such a situation.
Mixed sentiments among Ukrainian soldiers
A soldier from Ukraine’s 53rd Brigade, actively engaged in the conflict in the eastern Donetsk region, acknowledged that communication between Trump and Putin was commonplace.
“If dialogue is one way to influence the situation, then let them talk — but let it be meaningful enough for us to feel the results of those talks,” she remarked, maintaining anonymity due to potential security threats.
However, she expressed skepticism regarding the negotiations, given the conflicting demands previously presented by both sides.
“The conditions are unacceptable for everyone. What we propose doesn’t work for them, and what they propose is unacceptable for us,” she commented, believing the only resolution lies in force.
Another Ukrainian army officer, overseeing over 40 brigades, conveyed that soldiers desire not just any peace deal but also more substantial military assistance from the West.
“The supply we currently have, in terms of ammunition, is enough to last two or three weeks, maybe a month,” he shared under the condition of anonymity.” We definitely cannot deal with it on our own,” he concluded.