Ukraine Expresses Outrage Over US-Russia Talks Amid Ongoing Attacks
Ukraine reacted with deep concern and disappointment after a recent meeting between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia. Officials in Kyiv criticized the Trump administration for what they perceive as an appeasement of Moscow. The negotiations began just hours after a fresh wave of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, which resulted in at least two casualties and dozens of injuries.
In one of the attacks, a drone struck the top floor of a high-rise residential building in Dolynska, located in the Kirovohrad region, injuring a mother and her two children. The local governor, Andriy Raikovych, described the night as particularly distressing for the community. Soon after the conclusion of the talks in Riyadh, air raid sirens blared through the capital, Kyiv, as millions of citizens received messages urging them to seek shelter from potential Russian missile strikes.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, highlighted the absurdity of Moscow engaging in peace talks while simultaneously perpetrating violence against Ukrainians. He expressed that the salvo of 176 drones launched at Ukraine represented Russia’s true negotiating stance. While he refrained from openly criticizing the Trump administration, Podolyak indicated that the recently held high-level talks lacked proper preparation and were simply a platform for Russia to issue more ultimatums.
Ukrainian officials fear that the US-Russia discussions could lead to yet another unjust agreement, reminiscent of the past failed ceasefires enacted in Minsk. These prior agreements were notoriously ignored by Russia, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of many Ukrainians who remember the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing conflict in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Moreover, there’s growing trepidation that a hasty resolution between the US and Russia might impose significant democratic changes in Ukraine, potentially leading to a quick election process. Such a move could aim to replace the Zelenskyy administration with a more favorable, pro-Russian leadership amid ongoing warfare and displacement of Ukrainian citizens.
President Zelenskyy has firmly stated that Ukraine will not abide by any peace agreements forged without its input. He reiterated in a recent address that Ukraine will not surrender its interests or sovereignty under any circumstances. The Kremlin currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine and claims to have annexed four regions, despite not having full control over them.
Kuleba, Ukraine's former foreign minister, expressed doubts about the prospect of a ceasefire, emphasizing that peace seems remote as long as President Vladimir Putin operates under the belief that he can ultimately prevail. He pointed out that the key question revolves around Putin's true intentions, given that his ambition extends beyond territorial gains to the control of Ukraine itself.
As Ukraine continues to navigate this challenging geopolitical landscape, officials remain resolute in their stance that any path forward should honor the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity while rejecting any semblance of capitulation to Russian demands.
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