Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has leveled serious accusations against Russia, claiming that it is actively trying to prevent a peace meeting with President Vladimir Putin aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict. In comments made following a series of diplomatic engagements, Zelensky asserted that unlike Russia, Ukraine welcomes discussions and is unafraid of meetings with other leaders.
Zelensky's comments come in light of US President Donald Trump's attempts to arrange a summit between the two leaders. Trump compared the potential meeting to "oil and vinegar," emphasizing their tense relationship. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that while President Putin is open to meeting Zelensky, a suitable agenda for such a summit has yet to be developed, suggesting that Zelensky has been uncooperative in these discussions.
Throughout last week, Trump initiated discussions with both Putin in Alaska and Zelensky alongside European leaders in Washington. However, Trump described the situation in Ukraine as the most challenging diplomatic issue he has faced thus far. He noted that following his telephone conversation with Putin, he had begun to set up a summit which he would attend after the two leaders meet. Zelensky has supported the idea but stressed the necessity for strong security guarantees from Western allies to deter any future Russian aggression.
During a visit to Kyiv, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the alliance is working closely with Ukraine to facilitate effective security assurances to ensure Putin would not attempt further military action against Ukraine. Zelensky added that these guarantees should align with NATO's Article 5, which posits that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
The details surrounding these security guarantees are still being defined, with Rutte cautioning it is premature to determine the specific results of their discussions. While previous guarantees have been made, their implementation has often faltered. Zelensky expressed cautious optimism for the recent diplomatic efforts, stating that the unity observed in Washington represents progress even if the road ahead is fraught with uncertainty.
However, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov cast doubt on the potential for a summit, indicating to U.S. media that no meeting is currently scheduled. He accused Ukraine of inflexibility in ongoing negotiations and emphasized that Russia had agreed to accommodate several U.S.-proposed issues, including Ukraine's non-NATO membership.
The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, voiced frustration regarding Russia's demands for territorial concessions from Ukraine, characterizing them as a strategic trap set by Putin. Kallas reminded observers that Russia has not made any concessions while them being the aggressor in the conflict.
In a stark reminder of the ongoing military hostilities, Russia recently intensified its attacks on Ukraine, launching a barrage of drones and missiles. In retaliation, Ukrainian forces struck a critical oil pumping station in Russia, disrupting oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia. These nations rely heavily on supplies from the Druzhba pipeline, with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressing serious concerns over the impact of these events and pressing Trump for support.
While diplomatic engagement continues, deep divisions remain, and both sides face significant hurdles in achieving a lasting peace.
