Ukrainian President Zelensky expresses his viewpoint on the impending conference between Putin and Trump, stating, "They can't make any decisions regarding Ukraine without our involvement."
In the ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine, President Donald Trump is facilitating a series of meetings between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The scheduled bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin is set to take place on August 15, with the possibility of a follow-up trilateral meeting including Trump[1][3].
President Zelenskyy has reiterated his stance that Ukraine's sovereignty is non-negotiable, emphasizing Ukraine's constitutional prohibition on ceding land. He has emphasized that nothing about Ukraine can be decided without Ukraine's involvement[1][4]. Speaking at a press conference on August 12, Zelenskyy stated, "As for the talks, in any case, they are important at the leadership level, but it's impossible to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine, and no one will accept that."[5]
President Donald Trump has been advocating for security guarantees for Ukraine and has recently met with both leaders separately. Initially proposing a trilateral meeting, Trump has now shifted his focus to a bilateral Putin-Zelenskyy summit first, with the hope of immediate talks to reduce casualties and avoid further bloodshed[1][2][3]. Trump has expressed optimism about the potential for peace, stating that he expects his meeting with Putin to be "good," but not ruling out negative outcomes[6].
President Vladimir Putin has yet to confirm the meeting with Zelenskyy but has been cautious, demanding Russia's inclusion in discussions concerning security guarantees for Ukraine. Moscow seeks to retain influence over key areas such as the Donbas region, which is rich in mineral resources and industrial assets[1].
The planned meetings come at a critical juncture in the Russia-Ukraine war, with the need for dialogue to seek peace being acknowledged by all parties. The trilateral leaders' meeting, while yet to be officially confirmed, is expected to address ending the war in Ukraine and addressing issues that are in the leaders' hearts and Constitutions[7].
Zelenskyy has expressed hope that President Trump understands and realizes the importance of Ukraine's involvement in any discussions concerning its future. The date for the trilateral leaders' meeting is not yet known, but the bilateral meeting between Putin and Trump is confirmed to take place on August 15 in Alaska[1][3][4].
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-zelenskyy-meet-discuss-ukraine-europe-white-house-2020-08-05/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53704253 [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/trump-putin-meeting-ukraine-confirmed-200812151854756.html [4] https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/12/politics/zelenskyy-trump-putin-meeting-ukraine/index.html [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-president-says-no-one-will-accept-talks-without-ukraine-2020-08-12/ [6] https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/12/politics/trump-putin-meeting-ukraine-zelenskyy/index.html [7] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/trump-putin-meeting-ukraine-confirmed-200812151854756.html
- The upcoming bilateral meeting between President Zelenskyy and President Putin is part of a series of discussions on war-and-conflicts, particularly the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is also a focus of political discourse.
- As the trilateral leaders' meeting, including President Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin, is yet to be officially confirmed, it is crucial for Ukraine's sovereignty to be at the heart of these talks, as emphasized by President Zelenskyy.
