President Zelenskyy, in an interview with ARD, criticized what he perceives as US rhetoric aimed at appeasing Putin and hastening a peace deal, even at the cost of Ukrainian territorial concessions. He firmly stated Ukraine will not cede legally recognized territory and expressed confidence in reclaiming all occupied lands, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law. Zelenskyy also highlighted the need for NATO membership to be included in any negotiations and disagreed with assessments suggesting that regaining the 2014 borders is unrealistic. He further asserted that a ceasefire, without the restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty, is not a genuine success.
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European leaders will convene in Paris on Monday to coordinate their response to the Trump administration’s exclusion of Europe from U.S.-Russia talks on ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting, including key EU members, the UK, and NATO, aims to address European security concerns arising from potential peace deals negotiated without Ukrainian or European input. Zelenskyy has firmly rejected any agreement excluding Ukraine, while concerns persist that a deal could undermine Kyiv and broader European security. Discussions will likely focus on formulating a unified European approach, potentially including a joint envoy and exploring the possibility of contributing peacekeeping troops to secure a future ceasefire.
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Ukraine and the UAE formalized an economic partnership agreement on Monday, establishing free trade. President Zelenskyy’s subsequent trip to Turkey and Saudi Arabia is unrelated to concurrent U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh, though he intends to inquire about their progress. While Zelenskyy supports European involvement in future negotiations to pressure Russia for peace, both Moscow and Washington have rejected this proposal, citing differing priorities for their bilateral discussions. The Kremlin emphasized that its focus is on rebuilding U.S.-Russia relations and laying the groundwork for potential Ukraine negotiations.
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Ukrainian President Zelenskyy firmly stated that Ukraine will not participate in, nor recognize any agreements reached in, Saudi Arabia-based talks between Russian and US representatives concerning Ukraine. He emphasized that any negotiations excluding Ukraine are meaningless. Zelenskyy’s own Saudi Arabia visit, focusing on oil price reduction and unrelated to the US-Russia discussions, included plans to address the talks directly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Zelenskyy believes President Trump holds significant influence over oil prices and could potentially lower them.
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Next week in Saudi Arabia, a Trump-appointed delegation, including Secretary of State Rubio and National Security Adviser Waltz, will meet with Russian officials to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. These talks, following Trump’s calls with Zelenskyy and Putin, aim to facilitate peace with Ukrainian involvement. While Ukraine’s role is a key concern, the potential agreement’s terms remain undefined, though NATO membership for Ukraine and full territorial reclamation seem unlikely. Further high-level meetings, including a Trump-Putin summit, are anticipated.
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Despite US assurances of Ukrainian involvement, a senior Ukrainian source confirms Kyiv received no invitation to US-Russia peace talks scheduled for Saudi Arabia. These talks, involving US envoys and potentially leading to further meetings, proceed without European participation, prompting a separate European summit in Paris. President Zelensky has firmly rejected any peace deal excluding Ukraine. Conflicting statements from US officials regarding Ukrainian involvement and the overall peace process have created uncertainty and concern.
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Despite US assurances of Ukrainian involvement, a senior Ukrainian source confirms Kyiv received no invitation to US-Russia peace talks scheduled for Saudi Arabia. These talks, initiated after a renewed US-Russia dialogue, will proceed without European participation, prompting a separate European summit in Paris. President Zelensky has repeatedly rejected any peace deal excluding Ukraine, while US officials offer conflicting statements regarding Kyiv’s role in the negotiations. The situation highlights conflicting approaches and a lack of clarity surrounding the peace process.
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President Zelensky warned that a U.S. withdrawal from NATO would almost certainly lead to Russia occupying more of Europe, starting with former Soviet states. He emphasized that European nations lack the unified response needed to counter such an aggression, leaving them vulnerable to Russian expansion. Concerns heightened by Trump’s close relationship with Putin and reported back-channel negotiations between U.S. officials and Russia regarding Ukraine, excluding Ukraine itself, further fueled Zelensky’s anxieties. Zelensky firmly rejected any agreements made about Ukraine without its direct involvement, while acknowledging Ukraine’s dependence on continued U.S. aid for survival.
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Ukrainian forces recently retook the village of Pischane, reversing Russian advances made earlier this year near Pokrovsk. This counteroffensive comes amidst reports of slowing Russian progress due to heavy casualties and effective Ukrainian drone warfare. Despite this, President Zelenskyy warned of Russia’s potential to escalate the conflict, expanding the war and targeting NATO, while simultaneously calling for a just and lasting peace. Zelenskyy also revealed that Ukraine was excluded from discussions regarding a potential Putin-Trump summit. The Kremlin continues its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread damage and disruption.
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Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy has made it unequivocally clear: Ukraine will not accept any peace deal that it wasn’t actively involved in negotiating. This stance underscores a deep-seated distrust of any agreement brokered without Ukrainian participation, particularly one involving key players perceived as potentially acting against Ukraine’s best interests.
The idea of powerful nations dictating Ukraine’s fate without its direct involvement is deeply unsettling. It evokes historical parallels to appeasement policies that ultimately proved disastrous, highlighting the dangers of negotiating peace without fully including the affected party. The notion that Ukraine’s future could be determined by outside forces, without consideration for its sovereignty and the desires of its people, is fundamentally unacceptable.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood