Kyiv’s backers reacted with shock and outrage to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he had spoken with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and would “start negotiations immediately” with him about the Ukraine war.
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, a long-time Trump critic who was the lead prosecutor in the Republican’s first impeachment trial, called the president “a great dealmaker all right — for the Kremlin.”
“Today, President Trump called our enemy, Russia, before calling our ally, Ukraine,” Schiff said on social media. “Meanwhile, his Secretary of Defense, ruled out a future for Ukraine in NATO and a restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty over its own lands. Let’s not mince words about what this represents: a surrender of Ukraine’s interests and our own, even before negotiations begin.”
Trump said he expects to see Putin in Saudi Arabia in the “not too distant future” for their first meeting since his inauguration last month.
The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas released a late-night statement on behalf of the Weimar + group of nations, which includes France, Poland, Germany, Spain, Italy and the U.K., reacting to Trump’s pronouncements.
“Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity are unconditional” as peace talks begin, the statement posted by Kallas said. “Our priority must now be strengthening Ukraine and providing robust security guarantees.”
Marko Mihkelson, chair of the Estonian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, cautioned: “Today might go down in history as a dark day for Europe,” adding that it’s time for European leaders to “take our fate into our own hands.”
The pushback came after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Ukraine to give up hopes of recapturing all the territory occupied by Russia, labeling a return to its pre-2014 borders an “illusory goal.”
Trump reiterated Hegseth’s remarks Wednesday, telling reporters in the White House that Kyiv getting all its land back was “unlikely.” But he did add: “Some of it will come back. I think some of it will come back, yeah.”
Former British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hit out at Trump’s negotiation strategy. “Starting a negotiation by setting out what one side should give up is not a strong move,” the MP said. “Giving the impression that invasion pays off is not a strong move. Regimes are watching closely.”
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put on a brave face about his conversations with both Trump and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who visited Kyiv to discuss a Ukraine-U.S. economic partnership Wednesday.
“Together with the U.S., we are charting our next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure a lasting, reliable peace. As President Trump said, let’s get it done,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the two leaders agreed to remain in contact and plan future meetings.
But later in the day, Trump declined to say whether Kyiv should have an equal role in the peace process. “It’s an interesting question,” he told a reporter. “I think they [Ukraine] have to make peace. That was not a good war to go into.”
His remarks triggered criticism on both sides of the Atlantic, with Kyiv’s backers slamming the U.S. president for seemingly blaming Ukraine for Russia’s full-scale invasion of its territory.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for “a just peace” and for Ukraine and Europe to be at the table with the U.S. for any negotiations.
“All we need is peace. A JUST PEACE. Ukraine, Europe and the United States should work on this together. TOGETHER,” he wrote.
Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur called Ukraine the “scrimmage line for Liberty on the continent of Europe” and said Zelenskyy “must lead any negotiations on behalf of his nation.”
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, whose Viktor Orbán-led government has long been friendly with the Kremlin, was more positive about Trump’s call with Putin.
“We have lived in the shadow of war for three years, and for three years we have hoped that the war would end,” he wrote on social media. “Today, with the phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, we have come a big step closer to fulfilling that hope.”
Canadian Liberal candidate for prime minister and long-time Russia-watcher Chrystia Freeland, said Ottawa “stands steadfast with Ukraine.”
“It is in the interest of all democracies to support them,” she said on social media. “Ukraine must become a full NATO member.”
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