Ukraine’s security must come first, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed on Sunday. He thanked European leaders for supporting his appeal to join this week’s Trump–Putin summit. His concern is clear: a backroom deal between the U.S. and Russia could threaten Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Zelenskyy called for a peace process that respects his country’s independence and territorial integrity. “The end of the war must be fair,” he said. “I thank everyone standing with Ukraine for peace and European security.”
Meanwhile, European leaders showed solidarity. The leaders of France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, and Finland joined the European Commission in a firm statement. They demanded that any U.S.–Russia deal must safeguard Ukraine and the entire region.
IIn fact, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas strongly supported this position. “The U.S. must push Russia to negotiate seriously,” she told Reuters. Moreover, she urged leaders to include Ukraine and the EU in any peace deal. “It’s not just Ukraine’s fight—it’s Europe’s too,” she said.
Additionally, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted the summit’s purpose. “This meeting will test whether Putin truly wants to end this war,” he said. Zelenskyy formally requested to join the summit. However, U.S. and Russian officials have not sent him an invitation yet.
Trump and Putin plan to meet on August 15 in Alaska. If Zelenskyy joins, he will meet Putin face-to-face for the first time since the war began. Simultaneously, Trump has faced criticism for not enforcing tougher sanctions. In a Truth Social post, he revealed plans for the summit. This announcement followed Washington’s recent threat to hike tariffs on Russia and its allies.
Additionally, Bipartisan lawmakers quickly acted. They introduced the Sanctioning Russia Act, aiming to impose 500% tariffs on Russian oil and gas. The measure seeks to punish Moscow if it continues resisting peace efforts.
However, not everyone supports the summit. Kirill Dmitriev, a close Putin ally, warned of growing opposition. In a Telegram post, he accused unnamed countries of trying to sabotage the meeting.
“They will use disinformation and diplomatic tricks,” Dmitriev claimed. He insisted some nations benefit from prolonging the conflict. Ultimately, Ukraine’s security must come first. As diplomatic efforts unfold, Zelenskyy remains firm in protecting his nation’s future. Without doubt, Ukraine’s security must come first in any deal that claims to bring peace.
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