Zelensky: Trump's meeting with Putin would be dangerous

Zelensky: Trump's meeting with Putin would be dangerous

The President of Ukraine, Wolodymyr Selenskyj, warned that it would be "dangerous" if his US colleague Donald Trump first meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Selenskyj said that he had no guarantee from Trump that her talks would take place before negotiations with Putin.

fear of exclusion from the negotiations

Selenskyj said in a week when a telephone conversation between Putin and Trump in Kiev triggered the concern that Ukraine could be excluded from the negotiations. In addition, the possibility of a NATO side of Ukraine was reduced from the White House.

concern about Trump's priorities

In conversation with Christiane Amanpour from CNN at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Selenskyj admitted that he was "not happy" that Trump had first phoned Putin. However, he warned that it would be "more dangerous" if Trump meets with the Russian president in front of him.

No guarantees for discussions

Trump has not signaled no obligation to first meet Selenskyj, the Ukrainian President reported. However, the US President understands the need to meet "urgently" in order to discuss "concrete plans" to terminate the war, added Selenskyj.

Putin's influence on NATO

in a conversation that caused laughter among those present, Selenskyj admitted to having said Trump that Putin was afraid of him. "I said Trump that Putin was afraid of him and he listened to me. Now Putin knows," said Selenskyj with a smile.

objection to back room deals

Selenskyj emphasized that Putin seems to be the greatest influencing factor within NATO and repeated that peace talks to terminate the conflict could not be preceded by Kiev. "At the moment the most influential NATO member Putin seems to be-because his mood has the power to block NATO decisions," he explained.

uniform voice of Europe required

"Ukraine will never accept agreements that are made behind our back without our participation. This principle should apply to all of Europe," added Selenskyj. "No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine. No decisions about Europe without Europe. Europe has to sit at the table if decisions about Europe are made."

New relationship between America and Europe

Selenskyj warned that the times when the United States automatically supported Europe are over. "A few days ago President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. He didn't even mention that America needs Europe at this table. That says a lot," he noted.

uniform European armed forces required

The day after a speech by US Vice President JD Vance, who sharply criticized America's European allies and hardly mentioned the topic of Ukraine and a possible peace with Russia. "Yesterday in Munich, the US Vice President made it clear-decades of old relationships between Europe and America come to an end. From now on everything will be different, and Europe has to prepare for it," said Selenskyj.

The Ukrainian President called for a United European Army and admitted that the United States may not continue to offer military support that it once provided. "Let us be honest - now we cannot rule out the possibility that America threatens Europe on topics that say 'no'. Many leaders have spoken that Europe needs their own military power - an army in Europe," he emphasized.

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