Ukrainian President Zelensky criticized President Donald Trump for giving Russian President Vladimir Putin “what he wanted” during the Alaska summit last month.
In an interview with ABC, Zelensky said, “It’s a pity that Ukraine was not there, because I think that President Trump gave, gave Putin what he wanted.” The Ukrainian leader continued. “He had — he wanted, you know, he wanted very much to meet with President Trump, with the president of the United States. And I think that, and I think that Putin got it. And, it’s a pity.”
Last month, Putin traveled to Alaska for an hour-long meeting with Trump. The following day, Trump met with Zelensky and European leaders in Washington.
Zelensky claimed that the meeting with Trump was a public relations victory. “Putin doesn’t want to meet with me, but he wants very much to meet with the president of the United States, to show everybody video and images that he is there,” he said.
While the summit was presented by both leaders as a success, Zelensky and Putin remain far apart on key issues that must be resolved to end the conflict. Trump is supporting Western security guarantees for Ukraine that Russia has ruled out as part of any peace deal.
The President made ending the war in Ukraine one of his core issues as a candidate. Last week, Trump admitted that ending the conflict has been more difficult than he expected.
Putin is demanding Ukrainian neutrality, some limits on its future missile stockpile, and territorial concessions. Zelensky wants a significant Western troop presence in Ukraine post-war and is refusing to cede any territory.
