Zelensky warns: Trump's meeting with Putin would be dangerous

Zelensky warns: Trump's meeting with Putin would be dangerous

Ukraines President Wolodymyr Selenskyj warned that a meeting of his US colleague Donald Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be "dangerous" before him. He admitted that he had no guarantee from Trump to be taken into account in the peace talks.

concern in Kyiv

Selenskyj commented in a week in which a phone call between Putin and Trump in Kiev concerned about a possible insulation of Ukraine from the negotiations. The White House had also downplayed the prospects of a Ukraine membership in NATO.

First discussions between Trump and Putin

In conversation with Christiane Amanpour from CNN during the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Selenskyj admitted that he was "not happy" that Trump's first phone call took place with Putin. However, he warned that it would be even more dangerous if Trump actually meets with the Russian president.

no assurances of Trump

Trump had not addressed no obligation to first meet with Selenskyj, the Ukrainian president told CNN. However, the US President understands the need to speak "urgently" in order to discuss "concrete plans" to terminate the war, added Selenskyj.

Putin's influence on NATO

In a humorous exchange that made the audience laugh, Selenskyj also admitted to telling him that Putin was afraid of him. "I said Trump that Putin was afraid of him and he listens to me. And now Putin knows it," Selenskyj Ironically remarked.

demand for European unity

The Ukrainian President emphasized that Putin apparently had the greatest influence on NATO and repeated that peace talks to terminate the conflict could not take place without Kiev's participation. "At the moment the most influential member of NATO Putin seems to be - because his moods can block NATO's decisions," said Selenskyj.

No decisions without Ukraine and Europe

"Ukraine will never accept agreements that are made behind our back without our participation. And this rule should apply to all of Europe," he added. "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," emphasized Selenskyj.

The end of the guaranteed support

Selenskyj warned that the times of guaranteed American support for Europe were 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 said.

realignment of transatlantic relationships

"The old days are over - when America supported Europe only out of habit," he added. The Ukrainian leader expressed a day after the US Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized European allies at the Security Conference of America, hardly dealing with Ukraine and a possible compromise with Russia.

call to a European army

"Yesterday in Munich the US Vice President made clear-decades of the old relationship between Europe and America. From now on everything will be different, and Europe has to be prepared for it," said Selenskyj. The Ukrainian President called for a united European army and recognized that the United States may not continue to offer the same military support as before. "Let's be honest - now we cannot rule out the possibility that America in affairs that threaten it that could be threatened.