Zelenskyy tells AP that exclusive Ukraine from USA-Russia’s conversations is ‘dangerous’

Kyiv, Ukraine (AP) – The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that excluding his country from talks between the US and Russia about The war in Ukraine Would be “very dangerous” and asked for more discussions between Kyiv and Washington to develop a ceasefire plan.

When he spoke in an exclusive interview with Associated Press, Zelenskyy said that Russia does not want to engage in ceasefire or discussion The upper hand of the battlefield.

He said that US President Donald Trump could bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the table with The threat of sanctions Targeting Russia’s Energy and Banking System as well as continued The support of the Ukrainian military.

“I think this is the closest and most important steps,” he said in the interview in the Ukrainian capital that lasted for more than an hour.

Zelenskyy’s comments followed comments Friday by Trump who said US and Russian officials were “Already talking” about ending the war. Trump said his administration has had “very serious” discussions with Russia, but he did not elaborate.

“They may have their own relationships, but talk about Ukraine without us – it’s dangerous for everyone,” Zelenskyy said.

He said his team has been in contact with the Trump administration, but these discussions are at a “general level” and he believes personal meetings will soon take place to develop more detailed appointments.

“We have to work more on this,” he said, adding that Trump understandably seemed to be focused on domestic questions in the first weeks after his inauguration.

The nearly three -year war in Ukraine is on a crossroads. Trump promised In order to complete the matches Within six months of accession, but the two sides are far apart and it is unclear how a ceasefire agreement would take shape. Meanwhile Russia continues to do slowly but Shocky gains along the frontAnd Ukrainian forces are sustained serious shortage of labor.

Most Ukrainians want a break in the fighting to rebuild their lives. The country is facing Russian attacks on close daily attacks on homes, and strikes on power systems have thrown the entire cities in the dark.

Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced, unable to return to their homes after large channels in the country of the country have been reduced to rubble. Almost one -fifth of Ukraine is now occupied by Russia. In these areas, Moscow-appointed authorities quickly delete any hint of Ukrainian identity.

With Trump back in the White House, Ukraine’s relationship with the United States, its largest and most important allies, is also at a rocker.

In an initial phone call with Trump during the presidential campaign, Zelenskyy said, the two agreed that if Trump won, they would meet to discuss the steps needed to end the war. But a scheduled visit of Trump’s Ukraine -Release, Keith Kelloggwas postponed “for legal reasons” Zelenskyy said. That was followed by A sudden freezing of foreign aid It effectively caused Ukrainian organizations to stop projects.

“I think first and foremost, we (must) hold a meeting with him, and that is important. And, by the way, it’s something that everyone in Europe wants, “Zelenskyy said, referring to” a common vision of a quick end to the war. “

After the conversation with Trump, ”we should move on to a kind of conversation format with Russians. And I want to see the United States, Ukraine and the Russians at the negotiating table. … and to be honest, an EU voice must be there too. I think it would be fair, effective. But how will it turn out? I don’t know. “

Zelenskyy warned against letting Putin take “control” of the war, a seemingly reference to Russia’s repeated threats of escalation under President Joe Bid’s administration.

Without security guarantees from Ukraine’s allies, Zelenskyy said, any agreement concluded with Russia would only serve as a precursor to future aggression. Membership of the NATO allianceA long -term desire for Kyiv, which Moscow has categorically rejected, is still Zelenskyy’s top election.

NATO membership is the “cheapest” opportunity for Ukraine’s allies, and that would also strengthen Trump Geopolitically, Zelenskyy argued.

“I really think these are the cheapest security guarantees that Ukraine can get, the cheapest for everyone,” he said.

“It will be a signal that it is not for Russia to decide who should be in NATO and who should not, but for the United States of America to decide. I think this is a big victory for Trump, ”he said, apparently appealed to the president’s penchant for winners and business deals.

In addition, Zelenskyy said, Ukraine’s 800,000-strong army would be a bonus for the alliance, especially if Trump is trying to bring American troops backed abroad.

Other security guarantee suggestions should be backed up by adequate weapons from the US and Europe and support for Kyiv to develop his own defense industry, he said.

Zelenskyy also said a French suggestion To put European forces in Ukraine To act as a deterrent to Russian aggression is to take shape, but he expressed skepticism and said that many questions remained about the command and control structure and the number of troops and their positions. The problem was erected by French President Emmanuel Macron and with Trump, he said.

“I said in the presence of the two leaders that we are interested in this as part of the security guarantee, but not as the only guarantee of security,” he said. “That’s not enough.”

He added: “Imagine there is a quota. The question is who is responsible? Who is the most important? What will they do if there are Russian strikes? Missiles, separation, attack from the sea, crossing the land border, offensive. What will they do? What are their mandates? “

When asked if he asked these questions directly to Macron, he smiled and said, “We are still in the process of this dialogue.”

After a statement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio The fact that the war has put Ukraine back by 100 years, called Zelenskyy Rubio to visit Ukraine.

Rubio “has to come to Ukraine, first and foremost to see what Russia has done,” said the Ukrainian president. “But also to see what the Ukrainian people did, what they were able to do for the security of Ukraine and the world, as I said, and just talk to these people.”

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Associated Press Journalist Volodymyr Yurchuk contributed to this report.