Zelenskiy Insists on Kyiv's Voice in U.S.-Russia Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has declared Ukraine will not approve any U.S.-Russia deals over its situation without Kyiv's involvement. He emphasized Europe's role in such negotiations, voicing concern about U.S. proposals that exclude Ukraine. This comes amidst talks between the U.S. and Russia on the Ukraine conflict.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has firmly stated that Ukraine will not endorse any bilateral agreement crafted between Moscow and Washington without Kyiv’s involvement. He also called for Europe to be involved in discussions aimed at ending the ongoing war.

Zelenskiy made these comments while visiting a nuclear plant en route to the Munich Security Conference, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'As an independent country, we cannot accept agreements that exclude us,' he asserted to reporters.

Concerns have escalated in Europe after Trump’s defense secretary suggested Kyiv’s NATO membership is off the table and a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders seems unlikely. Zelenskiy urged the U.S. and Ukraine to devise a strategy before engaging Russia, as talks of a meeting between Trump and Putin progress without concrete involvement from Kyiv.