Donald Trump excludes Zelensky from the meeting with Putin
Donald Trump specified that Volodymyr Zelensky “was not part of the meeting”, responding to journalists who asked him for the possible presence of the Ukrainian president. “I would say that it can come, but he went to many meetings, you know, he has been there for three and a half years, nothing happened,” added Trump. The former American president then stressed that finding a peace agreement is not up to him, but that he would like “the best possible agreement for both sides”. At the summit in Alaska, therefore, Zelensky will not be there. The president then confirmed that “there will be exchanges of territories” and said he was opposed to Zelensky’s words that instead excluded them.
Pressure from Europe and allies
European leaders expressed concern about the absence of Ukraine from negotiations. Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor, said: “We hope and assume that President Zelensky participate in this meeting”, indicating that it is unacceptable to discuss territorial issues without directly involving Kiev and other European actors. Even the deputy prime minister and minister of Polish defense, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, said: “Inviting Zelensky to meet Alaska would be the best decision in current circumstances”. The requests for Ukrainian participation have made themselves felt throughout Europe, where a disadvantageous agreement is feared for Kiev.
The role of the United States and ambiguity on decisions
Matthew Whitaker, an American ambassador to NATO, has hinted that Zelensky’s presence could be “possible”, but at the moment no definitive decision has been made. JD Vance, American vice president, instead defined the participation of Zelensky “non -productive”. At the end of the summit between Trump and Putin, new meetings are hypothesized, also with the participation of Zelensky. Trump said “The next meeting will be between the Russian president and Volodymyr Zelensky or with Putin, Zelensky and Me”.
Reactions and preparations in Ukraine
In Kiev the situation remains complicated. Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly repeated the decisive line of the Ukrainian government: “Concessions will not convince Russia to end the war”, asking international allies to increase pressure on Moscow. Zelensky said that Russia “refuses to stop the killings and therefore must not receive any reward or benefit”. He also stressed that “Ukraine is working with partners to achieve authentic peace, peace through strength”. In recent weeks, Zelensky has also faced a drop in internal consensus and a growing distrust, especially after the risk has come forward that any concessions push part of the public opinion to oppose the government.
The European Union held out
In the same week, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the German chancellor Merz and other leaders of the European Union coordinated to allow Kiev to have a voice in the negotiations. An extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers was held by videoconference, with the presence of the Ukrainian Minister Andrii Sybiha. Antonio Tajani, Italian foreign minister, said: “Europe’s security is at risk, we must participate in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine”. The goal declared by Brussels is to avoid an agreement at the expense of Ukraine and strengthen the European unity around Kiev.
Trump bets on a “quick” understanding
Donald Trump said that “after two minutes I will know exactly if an agreement can be made” with Putin. The former American president also said he wanted to say to Putin that “war must end” and expects “constructive” negotiations. Trump mentioned the possibility of an exchange of territories, a theme that Zelensky has rejected forcefully. In the next few days, according to what was communicated, the interviews between the European and Ukrainian leaders will continue, while the world remains waiting to know which decisions will emerge from the face -to -face comparison between Trump and Putin.
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