Zelensky Comments On USA Russia Negotiations
Alright, folks, let’s break this down because there’s a lot to unpack here.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is making it crystal clear—he’s not about to let the United States and Russia sit down at the big table and carve out a deal about Ukraine without Ukraine actually being there. And honestly, can you blame him? Imagine someone negotiating the terms of your future without you in the room. Yeah, not gonna fly.
Zelensky made these strong remarks during an interview on NBC’s Meet The Press this Sunday, where host Kristen Welker pressed him on something former President Donald Trump said about Ukraine just last week.
Now, Trump’s take on Ukraine’s role in peace talks wasn’t exactly a resounding yes to the idea that Ukraine should have an equal seat at the table. He did later say that they would at least have a seat—but as anyone who’s been stuck at the kids’ table during Thanksgiving knows, there’s a big difference between just having a seat and actually having power.
NOW – Zelensky: “I will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine. Never.”pic.twitter.com/mPTfLgJzO8
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 16, 2025
So, when Welker asked Zelensky point-blank whether he’d been given any guarantees that Ukraine would be treated as an equal in negotiations, he didn’t mince words: Absolutely not. And not just no—never.
He made it clear that Ukraine’s fate is not something that can be decided behind closed doors by Washington and Moscow. And he wasn’t just speaking for himself—he insisted that no one in Ukraine, from government leaders to everyday citizens, would accept such a move.
And honestly, that stance makes sense. This war isn’t happening in Washington or Moscow—it’s happening in Ukrainian cities, in Ukrainian homes, and to Ukrainian families. The human cost is being felt by Ukrainians every single day, and that’s why Zelensky is hammering the point home: no one, no matter how powerful, should be making deals about Ukraine without Ukraine’s direct involvement.
That doesn’t mean he’s dismissing America’s role. In fact, he went out of his way to show gratitude for the bipartisan support Ukraine has received from the U.S. But he also drew a firm line: the U.S. and Russia can make whatever economic or political deals they want, but when it comes to this war? Ukraine must be at the table. No exceptions.