US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Ukraine would be involved in peace talks with Russia, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it would be premature to speak with Moscow at a security conference on Friday.
Trump stated that Ukraine would have a seat at the table during any peace negotiations with Russia over ending the war. “They’re part of it,” Trump said. However, Ukrainian officials disagree and emphasize the need for a common position between the US, Europe, and Ukraine before talks with Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unilateral overture to Trump on Wednesday raised alarm among Kyiv and European allies in NATO, who fear the White House might make a deal without them. “We will not accept any agreements without us,” Zelenskiy said.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that any quick fix is a dirty deal, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that talks would include a bilateral track with the US.
The United Arab Emirates has expressed interest in hosting talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, and European officials have agreed to engage in a “frank and demanding dialogue” with US officials.
Ukrainian officials acknowledge that full NATO membership may be out of reach in the short term, but say joining the alliance is still the simplest way for the West to provide security guarantees needed to ensure peace.
The Trump administration has announced unrealistic expectations for Ukraine’s negotiations with Russia, including no return to pre-2014 borders or NATO membership.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-warns-against-dirty-deal-ukraine-after-trump-putin-phone-call-2025-02-13