Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has firmly stated that Ukraine will not accept any bilateral agreement between Washington and Moscow that excludes Kyiv from negotiations.
Speaking on February 13, 2025, Zelenskiy emphasized the necessity of Europe’s involvement in peace talks to end the ongoing war. His statement came just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and announced the start of negotiations.
“We, as an independent country, simply will not be able to accept any agreements without us,” Zelenskiy declared while visiting a nuclear plant en route to the Munich Security Conference.
His remarks come amid growing concerns in Europe, particularly after Trump‘s defense secretary ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership, sparking fears that the U.S. may pursue a deal with Russia without consulting key European allies.
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“Today, it’s important that everything does not go according to Putin’s plan, where he seeks to make negotiations purely bilateral with the U.S.,” Zelenskiy warned, stressing the dangers of sidelining Ukraine.
He reiterated the urgency of Ukraine and the U.S. formulating a clear strategy to end the war before engaging in any talks with Russia.