Ukraine Rejects Peace Agreements Negotiated Without Its Involvement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that he will not accept any peace agreement for his country that is negotiated without Ukraine’s participation.
"We cannot accept, as an independent country, any agreements without us," Zelenskyy said. "I am expressing this very clearly to our partners – any bilateral negotiations about Ukraine, not about other issues, but any bilateral negotiations about Ukraine without us – we will not accept."
Zelenskyy’s stance comes amid growing international pressure for a negotiated settlement to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in a low-intensity war since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Western leaders have been pushing for a new round of peace talks, but Zelenskyy has insisted that Ukraine will not participate in any negotiations that exclude him or his government.
"We are not interested in any negotiations that will lead to the surrender of our territory or our sovereignty," Zelenskyy said. "We are fighting for our independence and our future. We will not give up."
Zelenskyy also expressed concern about the order of President Trump’s recent phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and himself. Trump spoke to Putin before calling Zelenskyy, which the Ukrainian president said was "not particularly pleasant."
"I believe that Ukraine is a priority for Trump," Zelenskyy said. "But it is not pleasant in any case that he spoke to his Russian colleague first."
Trump has said that he wants to "speak to two presidents at the same time" about the Ukraine conflict. But Zelenskyy said that he believes that Ukraine should be the priority in any negotiations.
"The Ukrainian-American meetings are a priority for us," Zelenskyy said. "And only after such meetings, after a plan has been developed to stop Putin, do I think it is fair to talk to the Russians."
Zelenskyy’s comments reflect the growing frustration among Ukrainian officials with the Trump administration’s approach to the Ukraine conflict.
Ukrainian officials have accused the Trump administration of not being fully committed to Ukraine’s security. They have also criticized the Trump administration’s decision to withhold military aid to Ukraine.
The Trump administration has defended its approach to Ukraine, saying that it is committed to Ukraine’s security and that the withheld military aid was intended to pressure Ukraine to investigate corruption allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden.
Despite the tensions between the Trump administration and Ukraine, Zelenskyy said that he believes that Ukraine and the United States can work together to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
"I believe that we can build a strong partnership with the United States," Zelenskyy said. "I am confident that together we can achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine."
