Woman from Ukraine in Freiburg puzzled by presence at Trump-Putin gathering: "I fail to comprehend the reasoning"
The highly controversial meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, which took place on Friday evening in the US state of Alaska, did not bring any deal on the war in Ukraine. Oksana Vyhovska, chairwoman of the German-Ukrainian Society Freiburg, and her Ukrainian acquaintances expected little from the summit.
Ukrainian exiles perceived the summit as lacking crucial steps toward a resolution because the summit was seen as sidelining Ukraine itself, potentially deciding its fate without its leadership's participation and on terms unfavorable to Ukraine's sovereignty. They viewed the proposed format—initially focusing on a one-on-one Trump-Putin meeting—as humiliating and contrary to the principle of "Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine."
Key missing or lacking steps perceived by Ukrainian exiles included the inclusion of Ukraine's leadership in negotiations, concrete agreement on ceasefire and territorial integrity, rejection of conditions that compromised Ukrainian sovereignty, substantive content and readiness for direct Russian-Ukrainian talks, and addressing language and cultural laws.
Oksana Vyhovska and her Ukrainian acquaintances think the meeting between the two heads of state was just for show. Russian missiles continued to fly into Ukraine during the summit, underscoring the ongoing conflict. Vyhovska expressed concerns about the summit before it took place, stating that one can't win with just hope, but she can't live without hope either.
Ukrainians in southern Germany watched the summit with mixed feelings. Anna Fitkovska, who wishes to live in Ukraine with her family, did not see any serious steps towards a solution in the meeting between Trump and Putin. The four women expressed that negotiations with Putin should not be as if he were a partner. They demand to talk with Ukraine, not about Ukraine.
Despite the perceived lack of progress, the women remain hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. They continue to advocate for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and call for meaningful participation in negotiations that respect Ukraine's rights as a nation.
- The meeting between Trump and Putin, regardless of its theatrical aspects, failed to address key missing or lacking steps perceived by Ukrainian exiles, such as the inclusion of Ukraine's leadership in negotiations, concrete agreements on ceasefire and territorial integrity, rejection of conditions that compromise Ukrainian sovereignty, substantive content and readiness for direct Russian-Ukrainian talks, and addressing language and cultural laws.
- Ukrainians continue to demand that negotiations with Putin should not be as if he were a partner, but rather involve direct talks with Ukraine itself, respecting its rights as a nation and advocating for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in an effort to seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war-and-conflicts and general-news in Ukraine.
