Ukraine’s involvement is crucial for any peace negotiations in the ongoing conflict with Russia, as President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that his country will not accept a peace deal proposed by the US and Russia without Ukrainian participation.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that any peace deal proposed by the US and Russia without Ukrainian involvement will not be accepted. This warning comes after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin pledged to begin talks to end the war in Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky is a Ukrainian politician, actor, and comedian who became the President of Ukraine in 2019.
Born on January 25, 1978, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, he rose to fame with his satirical TV show 'Servant of the People.' He won the presidential election in 2019 with over 73% of the vote, becoming one of the youngest heads of state in the world.
Zelensky's presidency has been marked by efforts to reform Ukraine's government and military, as well as address corruption and economic issues.
‘We cannot accept it, as an independent country,’ ‘Zelensky said.’ The US president had previously spoken of a ‘good possibility’ of ending the war after his phone call with Putin, but also stated that it was not ‘practical’ for Ukraine to join Nato and ‘unlikely’ it could return to its pre-invasion borders.
US-Russia Talks to Begin in Munich
Trump has suggested that Russian representatives will meet Americans on Friday in Munich, which is hosting a security conference. ‘Russia is going to be there with our people,’ Trump said. ‘Ukraine is also invited, by the way.’ However, Dmytro Lytvyn, adviser to Zelensky, told reporters that ‘talks with Russians in Munich’ were ‘not expected’.
Security Guarantees and Nato Membership
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Zelensky has emphasized that his country’s priority is ‘security guarantees’, which he does not see without US support. He also stated that Nato membership for Ukraine would be the ‘most cost-effective’ option for its partners, although no details were provided.
European Allies Reject Forced Settlement
European countries have provided significant support to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022.
According to the European Union, over €10 billion has been allocated to aid Ukraine.
Germany, France, and Poland have been among the largest contributors.
In addition, many European nations have imposed sanctions on Russian individuals and entities.
The EU has also provided military aid, including equipment and training for Ukrainian forces.
NATO member countries have increased their military presence in Eastern Europe as a deterrent against further Russian aggression.
Ukraine’s European allies have rejected any move towards a forced settlement on Kyiv. UK Defence Secretary John Healey said there could be ‘no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine’, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected a ‘dictated peace’. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Washington of ‘appeasement’ towards Russia, stating that ‘we shouldn’t take anything off the table before the negotiations have even started’.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia began following the overthrow of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president in 2014. Moscow annexed Crimea and backed pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, leading to a full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. Ukrainian forces have retaliated with artillery and drone strikes, as well as a ground offensive against Russia’s western Kursk region.
Ukraine is a country located in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland and Slovakia to the west, and Romania and Moldova to the south.
With a population of over 42 million people, Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe after Russia.
The capital city is Kyiv, also known as Kiev.
Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since been working towards integration with European institutions.