Zelenskyy: Ukraine must be included in Russia peace talks

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Feb 13, 2025

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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Thursday that his nation must be included in any peace talks with Russia, suggesting he’s not happy with U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to start negotiations directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The wartime leader said Ukraine will not accept a peace deal cut behind its back.

Zelenskyy added it was “not very pleasant” to hear that Trump and Putin chatted Wednesday about a possible peace deal and plan to hold a summit.

“We cannot accept it, as an independent country, any agreements (made) without us,” Zelenskyy said as he visited a nuclear power plant in western Ukraine.

Still, Zelenskyy seemed to avoid criticizing Trump directly for his call with Putin.

“He never mentioned in a conversation that Putin and Russia was a priority. We, today, trust these words. For us it is very important to preserve the support of the United States of America,” Zelenskyy said.

Trump later said Ukraine would need to be a “part of” any potential peace talks.

The president also said he believes Putin is sincere when he says he wants to end the war he started three years ago, and called for Russia to be invited to rejoin the G-8 club of wealthy nations.

I think he wants peace. I think he would tell me if he didn’t,” Trump said. “I trust him on this subject.”

European leaders also expressed deep misgivings about Trump’s plans for direct talks with Putin, fearing he will not include any of their priorities in the discussions and may put his goal for a short-term political win above longstanding geopolitical interests.

Trump’s call was greeted with celebration in Russia, where Kremlin supporters said it showed the new U.S. president was seeking to jettison Zelenskyy and European leaders in favor of closer ties with Putin.

Trump has regularly attacked U.S. allies in Europe for not paying their fair share for their defense and has suggested the U.S. might not come to their aid if they don’t pony up.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unnerved European allies by telling them Ukraine must trade land for peace and should not expect to win NATO membership.

Former national security adviser John Bolton harshly criticized Trump for giving Putin the upper hand before talks on Ukraine have even begun.

Bolton, a prominent geopolitical hawk, said the White House should not have openly said Ukraine would have to surrender territory and taken NATO membership for Ukraine off the table.

“Trump has effectively surrendered to Putin before the negotiations have even begun,” Bolton told CNN.

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