Ukraine’s presence at Trump-Putin talks would change outcome - Zelenskyy
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s absence from the summit played into the Kremlin’s hands, while a trilateral format would have ensured a different outcome, Sky News reports.
According to the Ukrainian President, the outcome of the talks would have been completely different if Ukraine had been at the table.
"I believe, if it was a trilateral meeting (with Ukraine included - ed.), we would have some result," Zelenskyy emphasized in an interview to the media outlet.
The Ukrainian President explained that the Kremlin was looking for a way out of international isolation. A personal meeting with US President Donald Trump became an opportunity for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to achieve this goal.
Zelenskyy stressed that, in his opinion, Putin should have paid a higher price, should have suffered defeat in the war, and been forced to stop. Instead, he gained de-isolation, took joint photos with President Trump, and engaged in a public dialogue, which, Zelenskyy believes, opens the doors for Putin to other summits and formats.
Zelenskyy-Putin meeting
US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin met in Alaska on August 16. The main topic of the summit was peace negotiations on Ukraine.
Putin voiced a number of his conditions for a peace agreement, which included significant territorial concessions by Kyiv in four Ukrainian regions.
On August 18, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington together with European leaders. At a meeting with Trump, they discussed a possible Zelenskyy-Putin meeting and security guarantees for Ukraine.
In turn, the Ukrainian President stated that a meeting with Putin should only take place on neutral ground in Europe - for example, in Austria or Switzerland.
Later, Putin confirmed his readiness for talks but insisted that Zelenskyy should come to Moscow for the meeting.
The Ukrainian President reacted to this proposal skeptically.
Russia also stated that Ukraine and Russia have not yet moved closer to holding a summit at the highest level. A Zelenskyy-Putin meeting is only possible once both sides agree on the agenda.
