Zelenskyy considers US-Russia talks without Ukraine «very dangerous»

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy Photo: Getty Images

Negotiations between the United States and Russia to end the war without Kyiv's participation pose a threat to everyone,

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Earlier, Donald Trump indicated that his administration had already held discussions with Moscow, but did not specify who was involved in such a dialogue.

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«They may have their own relations, but it is dangerous for everyone to talk about Ukraine without us», Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy added that his team is in contact with Donald Trump's entourage, and personal meetings are expected in the near future to discuss details. Earlier, the visit of Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, to Kyiv in January was postponed for legal reasons.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that any agreements with Russia should be backed by security guarantees from Ukraine's allies. The President reiterated that Ukraine's accession to NATO remains his priority, calling it «the cheapest option for» security, which is also beneficial for the United States.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said that Russia was not interested in ceasefire negotiations and was not ready to make concessions, as it considered it a sign of defeat. According to him, Ukraine's 800,000-strong army would be a bonus for NATO, especially if Donald Trump tries to bring home US troops stationed abroad.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Donald Trump could force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table by tightening sanctions against Russia's energy and banking sectors and continuing military support for Kyiv.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to «allocate people» to negotiate with Ukraine to end the war. At the same time, he called any such talks «illegitimate».