Russian officials and state-controlled media adopted a triumphant tone on Thursday following President Donald Trump’s decision to overturn three years of U.S. policy by announcing his likely meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal in the nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly stated that he would not accept any negotiations regarding Ukraine that exclude his country from the discussions. European governments also insisted on having a seat at the negotiating table.
Trump’s policy shift appeared to position Putin as the central figure in resolving the conflict while potentially sidelining Zelenskyy and European governments from any peace talks. The Ukrainian leader recently warned that such an approach would be “very dangerous.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has been widely isolated by the West. In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him on charges of war crimes.
Trump’s announcement triggered a major diplomatic shake-up, raising the possibility of a turning point for Ukraine and Europe.
Russia Applauds Putin’s Prominent Role
Following Wednesday’s hour-long call between Trump and Putin, Russian officials and state-backed media expressed enthusiasm.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked on Thursday that the “position of the current U.S. administration is far more appealing.”
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s National Security Council, declared in an online statement: “At last, the presidents of Russia and the U.S. have spoken. This, in itself, is significant.”
Senior Russian lawmaker Alexei Pushkov called the conversation “a landmark moment in global politics and diplomacy.”
“I am certain that in Kyiv, Brussels, Paris, and London, they are reading Trump’s detailed statement on his talk with Putin with horror, unable to believe their eyes,” Pushkov commented on his messaging app.
Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti, in an opinion column, claimed: “The U.S. has finally dealt Zelenskyy a serious blow,” and suggested that Trump had established “common ground” with Putin.
“This signifies that the principle of ‘nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’—once a fundamental belief for Zelenskyy, the European Union, and the previous U.S. administration—is no longer in effect. Moreover, Kyiv and Brussels’ opinions appear irrelevant to Trump,” the article stated.
The pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda went further, running a column with the headline: “Trump Signed Zelenskyy’s Death Sentence.”
“The myth of Russia being a ‘pariah’ in global politics, carefully crafted by Western propaganda, has collapsed with a resounding crash,” the piece claimed.
Zelenskyy Rejects Negotiations Without Ukraine’s Participation
Speaking publicly for the first time since Trump separately called both Putin and Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader admitted it was “not very pleasant” that the U.S. president spoke to Putin first.
However, he emphasized that the greater concern was preventing any developments that would “allow everything to proceed according to Putin’s plan.”
“As an independent nation, we cannot accept any agreements made without our involvement,” Zelenskyy asserted while visiting a nuclear power plant in western Ukraine.
Although Trump remained noncommittal on Wednesday, he later provided some assurances when reporters asked if Ukraine would be included in U.S.-Russia talks.
“Of course, they would,” Trump stated. “I mean, they’re part of it. We would have Ukraine, we have Russia, and we’ll have other parties involved too.”
Zelenskyy revealed that during their call, Trump had expressed interest in speaking to both the Russian and Ukrainian presidents simultaneously.
“At no point in our conversation did he indicate that Putin or Russia was his priority. We, today, trust his words. It is crucial for us to maintain U.S. support,” Zelenskyy said.
European and NATO Allies Alarmed by Trump’s Approach
Trump also cast doubt on Ukraine’s prospects of joining NATO—an alliance that, less than a year ago, deemed Ukraine’s membership “irreversible.” Additionally, he appeared to dismiss the notion of Ukraine regaining territories currently occupied by Russian forces, which amount to nearly 20% of the country.
Russian President Talks With Donald Trump
The U.S. president has previously attributed Russia’s invasion to Ukraine’s aspirations of joining the Western military alliance.
“That’s the reality,” Trump said Thursday regarding Moscow’s opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership. “And I think that’s how it’s going to be.”
The U.S. administration’s vision for a settlement closely aligns with Moscow’s preferred outcome, triggering concern and unease within NATO’s 32-member alliance and the European Union’s 27 nations.
European leaders, particularly those fearing Russian expansionism, insisted they must be included in the negotiations.
“Ukraine, Europe, and the United States should work on this together. TOGETHER,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted on social media Wednesday.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed similar concerns: “Any deal struck behind our backs will not be viable. Europe and Ukraine must be involved.”
Other European officials dismissed Trump’s optimism, warning against premature concessions.
“Just as Putin has no intention of halting hostilities even during potential negotiations, we must uphold Western unity, intensify our support for Ukraine, and sustain economic and political pressure on Russia,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. “Our actions must demonstrate that we are not changing course.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged that engaging with Putin was necessary, pointing out that he had spoken to the Russian leader as recently as November. However, he stressed that Europe would not support any agreement imposed on Ukraine.
“A dictated peace will never gain European approval,” Scholz stated. “We also will not accept any solution that severs American and European security. The only beneficiary of such an outcome would be President Putin.”
A Ukrainian Soldier’s Perspective on Trump-Putin Talks
A Ukrainian soldier from the 53rd Brigade, stationed in the war-torn Donetsk region, expressed a pragmatic view regarding Trump’s engagement with Putin.
“If dialogue can influence the situation, then let them talk—but it must be meaningful enough for us to feel the effects,” she said, requesting anonymity due to concerns for her family’s safety in Russian-occupied territory.
Despite acknowledging the necessity of negotiations, she remained skeptical, citing the fundamentally opposed demands previously presented by Ukraine and Russia.
“The conditions are unacceptable for both sides. What we propose doesn’t work for them, and what they offer is unacceptable for us,” she explained. “That’s why I, like most soldiers here, believe the only resolution will come through force.”
A Ukrainian officer, who maintains regular contact with over 40 brigades, stated that soldiers do not want a peace deal at any cost—even as they grapple with dwindling Western military aid.
“Our ammunition stockpile is enough to last two or three weeks, maybe a month,” he told speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on media interactions.
