Anna Hartz
Kyiv Fears Being Sidelined as Trump Plans Direct Talks With Putin
Diplomacy in times of war can shift in unexpected ways. Leaders make promises, draw red lines, and then sometimes step over them within hours.
The latest example comes from Washington, where President Donald Trump changed his stance on how he would approach talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Thursday, Trump said he would meet Putin without insisting that he also meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reports Ziare.
Earlier that same day, a White House official had said Trump’s meeting with Putin would only happen if the Russian leader agreed to meet Zelensky as well. Putin had called that condition premature.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “I will do everything I can to stop the killings.”
No Firm Schedule
He admitted being disappointed by Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine, even after what he called constructive discussions with Putin.
Plans for the meeting gained momentum after Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday for three hours.
The White House also announced new tariffs on India, accusing it of helping Russia’s war economy.
Putin confirmed on Thursday that the meeting would take place soon. He suggested the United Arab Emirates as a possible location.
Hours later, Trump dropped the condition about a Zelensky meeting. “No. You don’t have to,” he said when asked if Putin must meet the Ukrainian leader first.
The White House later said Trump still wanted to meet both leaders, but no firm schedule was set.
Doubt About Putin’s Intentions
Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said the idea came from the U.S., though he later softened his comments, saying both sides were interested.
Ukraine has pushed for separate talks with Trump before any bilateral meeting between Trump and Putin. Officials in Kyiv fear being sidelined if negotiations happen without them.
Some analysts believe Putin is trying to control the process, as he did in past meetings.
Others worry Trump could give away leverage without securing real concessions. European officials have expressed doubt that Moscow is serious about peace.
For now, both sides appear to be positioning themselves. The question is whether this meeting will move the war toward an end — or simply buy more time for the fighting to continue.
