Zelenskyy: US-Russia talks without Ukraine would be dangerous for all
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The new US administration is in contact with the Kremlin, but it is unlikely that direct talks are taking place between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the same time, decisions made without Ukraine would be dangerous for everyone, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with The Economist.
"I’m just not sure that Putin has some number of conversations with Trump. I’m not sure that this is happening. Their teams are probably in contact," the President said.
According to him, Trump's team appears to be engaging more actively with Moscow, which has led to multiple leaks in Western media - a contrast to the Biden administration.
"So, the American and Russian intelligence services were communicating. Representatives of the administrations, presidents, they definitely communicated. We know this, it was behind the scenes, away from the public eye, from almost the whole world. But they still communicated," Zelenskyy explained.
The President noted that the US has received messages from Russia and discussed "certain things," but the key issue is whether any decisions were made during these contacts. He warned that decisions made without Ukraine would be a threat to all.
"It’s very dangerous if decisions are made about us without Ukraine. Dangerous for everyone: for the world, for Ukrainians, for Europe, and for the USA," Zelenskyy said.
US-Russia contacts
US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia on February 11. He retrieved an American citizen imprisoned in Russia. According to media reports, Witkoff likely met with Vladimir Putin.
According to Trump, Washington has made tremendous progress in negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv over the past week.
