**Ukraine Rejects Peace Deal Without Involvement**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country will not accept any peace deal agreed by the US and Russia without its involvement. This comes after a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, where they pledged to begin negotiations to end the war.
Trump said there was a “good possibility” of ending the conflict, but acknowledged that Ukraine joining Nato might be impractical. He also suggested it was unlikely that Ukraine could return to its pre-2014 borders. Zelensky responded by saying that his country would not be shut out of negotiations and emphasized the need for security guarantees from the US.
**International Rejection**
Ukraine’s European allies have rejected any move towards a forced settlement on Kyiv. UK Defence Secretary John Healey said that “there can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine, and Ukraine’s voice must be at the heart of any talks”. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also rejected a “dictated peace” and his defence minister called it “regrettable” that Washington was already making concessions to the Kremlin.
The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Washington of “appeasement” towards Russia, saying that they shouldn’t take anything off the table before negotiations have started. She warned that this would play into Russia’s hands and what they want.
**Trump’s Views**
Donald Trump said he would meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia and expected a ceasefire soon. He also claimed that Ukraine had to make peace. His Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to row back on previous comments, saying that everything was on the table during negotiations. However, he did suggest financial aid to Ukraine and US troop numbers in Europe could be discussed.
**Background**
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine began with Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, followed by backing pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The war escalated when Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago. Despite setbacks, Russian forces have taken around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory in the east and south.
**Next Steps**
The situation remains uncertain as negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the US are set to begin. However, it is clear that Ukraine will not accept any peace deal without its involvement, and international allies are pushing for a united position from all parties involved.