Zelensky’s officials call Trump’s stance `stab in the back’
US president “just wants a quick deal,” Ukrainian official said
The position taken by US President Donald Trump following his talks with the Russian head of state, Vladimir Putin, represents a betrayal for Ukraine, a senior Zelensky’s official told the Financial Times.
“This is a stab in the back,” he said. “He just wants a quick deal,” another Zelensky’s official maintained.
The New York Times reported earlier, citing sources, that following his meeting with Putin, the US leader proposed negotiating a peace deal under which Ukraine would give up the rest of the Donbass region to Russia, including areas not liberated by Russian troops, in a phone call with European leaders. A cease-fire in the rest of Ukraine at current battle lines and security guarantees, for both Kiev and Europe, would be offered in return, under the plan.
On August 15, Putin and Trump met at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Alaska. Their talks lasted approximately three hours, including a one-on-one conversation in the American leader’s limousine en route to the main negotiation venue, as well as a subsequent small-group discussion involving three participants on either side.
The Russian delegation included Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while the American side was represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff. In a statement to the media following the talks, Putin said they mostly focused on resolving the Ukraine conflict.
Trump described his summit with Putin as “very productive.” Later, he called Vladimir Zelensky, EU leaders, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
After the summit and the phone calls, Trump stated that Ukraine and Russia should go straight to agreeing on a final peace deal as he dropped his demand for a ceasefire.
Trump and Zelensky are due to have a meeting in the White House on August 18. The US leader said that if talks with Zelensky are a success, another meeting with Putin will be scheduled.
