Kyiv, February 2025:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that if former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin make any peace agreement, it will not be accepted without Ukraine.
“There can be no discussion about the future of Ukraine without us,” Zelensky said at a recent press conference. “Our main goal is to protect our sovereignty and territory, and no one can make any deals on our behalf.”
Trump's demands and Ukraine's response
Donald Trump has said several times that if he were to become US president again, he would end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office. However, he has not given any detailed explanation as to how he would do this.
Many analysts believe Trump may try to negotiate a deal with Putin that would require Ukraine to back down from some of its demands. But Zelensky has made it clear that he will not accept any deal that would undermine Ukraine's sovereignty.
"We are a free nation, our people are defending their freedom with their blood. No one can bargain with our territory," Zelensky said.
Russia's position
Russia has not yet made any official comment on Trump's proposal, but Putin has said several times that the war could end quickly if the United States stopped supplying weapons to Ukraine.
According to experts, if Trump is elected president, he could reduce US aid to Ukraine, which could change the course of the war.
Concerns of European allies
Ukraine's main European allies are also concerned that if Trump becomes president, he may not be as committed to NATO as he once was.
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have already stated that they will continue their support for Ukraine and that no talks to end the war without Ukraine will be acceptable.
Are peace talks possible?
Although the chances of ending the war without diplomatic talks are slim, analysts say that if Trump is elected, he will try to broker a deal. But what that will look like and whether Ukraine will accept it are the big questions.
"We want peace, but it must be based on justice. Peace must come through defending our territory, not through surrender," Zelensky said.
In this situation, the 2024 US presidential election has become crucial not only for the United States but also for the future of the Ukraine war.
