Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed displeasure on the fact that US President Donald Trump had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin before him. Zelenskyy revealed on Thursday that Trump had initially planned to speak to both leaders simultaneously, but the fact that Putin was prioritised did not sit well with the Ukrainian leader. “It’s really not very pleasant in any case,” Zelenskyy remarked, adding that Trump had assured him that Ukraine remained a priority, despite the phone call with Putin coming first.
Trump’s phone call with Putin, which took place on Wednesday, was hailed by Russian officials as a victory, and the Russian state media celebrated the shift in US policy. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the call as “appealing,” while former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev declared it a significant moment in global politics. Russian news agencies took the opportunity to suggest that Trump’s willingness to engage Putin directly marked a shift away from Ukraine’s central role in peace talks, a development that Ukrainian officials are alarmed by.
Also read: Trump and Putin hold phone call, agree to ‘work together’ to end Ukraine war
Zelenskyy quickly reaffirmed his position, stating that any agreement concerning Ukraine would be unacceptable unless the country itself was included in the discussions. “We cannot accept it, as an independent country, any agreements (made) without us,” Zelenskyy declared, making it clear that Ukraine would not be sidelined in peace negotiations.
The US shift in approach under Trump has caused considerable anxiety among European allies, particularly within Nato. Some fear that a peace deal brokered without Ukraine’s involvement would not only be detrimental to the country’s future but could embolden Russian aggression across the continent. “Ukraine, Europe, and the United States should work on this together,” said Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Estonia’s foreign minister Margus Tsahkna also voiced concerns, emphasising that a united Western stance was crucial in the face of Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy’s remarks come amidst growing concerns of the Ukrainian government’s that Trump’s approach may align more closely with Moscow’s desired peace terms, which include Ukraine’s renunciation of Nato ambitions and the recognition of Russia’s annexed territories. Some officials, including Trump’s new defence secretary Pete Hegseth, suggesting that Nato membership for Ukraine was unrealistic. This marks a major u-turn from the Joe Biden regime which provided Ukraine with billions in aid and arms.
