Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected any peace deal between the United States and Russia that excludes Ukraine, following a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine, as an independent nation, "cannot accept" any agreement made without its direct involvement.
Trump, who made his first publicized call with Putin since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, described their discussion as "great talks" and expressed optimism about ending the war. He later confirmed plans for a face-to-face meeting with Putin, possibly in Saudi Arabia. However, the prospect of the U.S. and Russia negotiating over Ukraine’s future without Kyiv at the table has sparked strong opposition from Ukraine and its European allies.
Trump also announced that high-level representatives from the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia would attend the Munich Security Conference on Friday. However, Zelensky’s adviser Dmytro Lytvyn denied any planned talks with Russian officials in Munich, emphasizing that Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S. must first establish a united position before engaging with Moscow.
Zelensky made clear that Ukraine will not accept any settlement dictated by external parties, reiterating that negotiations must be conducted from a "position of strength" and with "strong and reliable security guarantees." He also reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to NATO membership as the "most cost-effective" security solution.
In a separate statement, Zelensky warned global leaders against trusting Putin’s claims of seeking peace, recalling Russia’s history of aggression and territorial annexation, including Crimea in 2014.
European leaders have also expressed strong opposition to any deal imposed on Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected the idea of a "dictated peace," while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas criticized Washington’s apparent concessions to Moscow, warning against "appeasement."
UK Defence Secretary John Healey echoed these sentiments, stating that "Ukraine's voice must be at the heart of any talks."
Trump’s administration has signaled a departure from previous U.S. policies by suggesting that Ukraine should not expect to reclaim all its territory or join NATO as part of any agreement. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who initially downplayed Ukraine’s NATO prospects, later insisted that "everything was on the table." He described Trump as the "best negotiator on the planet" capable of securing a deal.
While Trump insists that Ukraine will be included in peace talks, many in Kyiv fear that his direct engagement with Putin, coupled with his stance on territorial concessions, could undermine Ukraine’s position.
Zelensky will now attempt to rally support at the Munich Security Conference, where he is set to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance. With Washington’s approach shifting, Ukraine faces an uncertain future, caught between its fight for sovereignty and the geopolitical maneuvering of global powers.
Putin, who was previously isolated by the West under former President Joe Biden, now finds himself re-engaged in direct talks with the most powerful country in the world. Trump's remarks suggesting that Russia had "fought for that land" could be interpreted as tacit approval of Moscow’s territorial claims.
As Ukraine braces for the next phase of diplomacy, the stakes remain high. The war has devastated cities, claimed countless lives, and reshaped global security dynamics. Whether Ukraine can secure a just and lasting peace remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Zelensky is not willing to let Trump and Putin decide his country's fate without a fight.