In a phone call, Trump and Putin agreed to start peace negotiations – without Ukraine.
Now criticism comes from both Ukraine and the EU, which believes that you have to get a place at the negotiating table.
– Of course, there is a concern that Putin and Trump sit down in Saudi Arabia and settle on Europe’s borders. If that were to be, it would lead to enormous concern, anger and future in Europe, says Jona Källgren, TV4’s foreign reporter.
Ukraine will not become a member of NATO, not participate in the negotiations on the country’s future and the United States will require something back for all the support packages so far sent – said Trump late on Tuesday evening after talking to Russian President Putin.
A new personal meeting between the two presidents is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia, but Trump announced that he is also happy to meet the internationally wanted Russian president in both Washington and Moscow.
And even before the parties have taken place at the negotiating table, Trump noted that Ukraine must prepare to resign territory and that the country’s borders will not be protected.
The requirement of EU: Must participate in the negotiations
At the same time, the requirement that Ukraine and the EU have a place at the negotiating table when the future of the Ukrainian people is decided. It requires seven European countries and the European Commission in a statement, following Trump’s and Putin’s phone calls.
– To abandon Ukraine would definitely recognize the rightest right. It would be an invitation to all despots and tyrants around the world to invade their neighbors with total impunity, says France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, one of those behind the statement.
And now the turmoil is growing in Europe.
– Of course, there is a concern that Putin and Trump sit down in Saudi Arabia, they do not even sit in Switzerland as they previously thought, and make up for Europe’s boundaries. If that were to be, it would lead to enormous concern, anger and future in Europe, says Jona Källgren, TV4’s foreign reporter.
Zelenskyj in difficult seat: “Can’t criticize Trump”
However, Ukraine President Zelenskyj has not made any loud criticism of the US move.
– He can’t go out now and criticize Donald Trump, he can’t criticize these negotiations before they have even been properly planned, says Jona Källgren.
Among ordinary Ukrainians, there is now a major concern for the future and that the support from the US will disappear.
– They are worried that it could be a brief peace. A peace that will only lead to a new war in a few years when Russia returns in a stronger position.