Donald Trump with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak in the White House, May 10, 2017

EA on France 24 English and RTE: Ukraine — The US-Russia Talks Over Moscow’s Invasion

Tuesday’s Coverage: Facing Trump-Russia, Europe’s Leaders Pledge Support for Kyiv

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 2256 GMT:

Ukraine Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Donald Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg on Thursday.

Presidential Chief of Staff Andrii Yermak saw Kellogg today. Yermak “emphasized the importance” of the envoy “having full and objective information about the frontline developments” and said the US will be “briefed directly by the military command and local commanders”.

Yermak noted that “Russia continues to use information manipulation and seeks to sow discord among [Ukraine’s] partners”. He said Ukraine must be part of discussions for a “just and lasting peace”.

UPDATE 2250 GMT:

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to express his support.

Zelensky posted:

UPDATE 2240 GMT:

Mike Pence, Donald Trump’s Vice President in his first term, has challenged Trump’s remarks.

But the Republicans’ Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, would not criticize Trump.

What I’m in support of is a peaceful outcome and result in Ukraine. And I think right now, the administration, the President and his team are working to achieve that. And I think right now you got to give them some space.

I think it’s in everybody’s best interest – Ukraine, Russia, Europe, the United States – if they can bring about a peaceful conclusion to the war. So that’s what this is about right now. And I think most of us want to support their efforts as they move in that direction and hopefully to a successful outcome.

UPDATE 1950 GMT:

While Donald Trump has been ranting about Volodymyr Zelensky, other countries have been rallying around Ukraine and Europe’s security.

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz challenged Trump’s label of Zelensky as a “dictator”.

It is simply wrong and dangerous to deny President Zelensky his democratic legitimacy.

What is correct is that Zelensky is the elected head of state of Ukraine….The fact that proper elections can’t be held in the middle of the war is reflected in the Ukrainian constitution and electoral law.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called out Trump’s lie that Kyiv had “started” the fighting with Russia: “No one but Putin started or wanted this war in the heart of Europe.”

She said, “We are working with all our strength to further strengthen Ukraine….We are at an existential waypoint for security and peace in Europe”

Responding to Trump’s “absurd” verbal attacks, she said, “If you look at the real world instead of just firing off a tweet, then you know who in Europe has to live in the conditions of a dictatorship: people in Russia, people in Belarus.”

French prime minister François Bayrou echoed that the invasion was “a deliberate and absolutely unjustified aggression by Russia and Putin on Ukraine”.

We lived with the idea that the planet would be from now on regulated by the law, that no great country would attack the stability of borders and that international law would enable all countries to find their development and a certain idea of a stable future…all that has been overturned by Putin.

And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Ukraine must be part of any talks about its future.

“It’s a fundamental principle for Canada and for the vast majority of our allies….Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” Trudeau emphasized.

UPDATE 1935 GMT:

The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, criticized US Vice President J.D. Vance’s “very problematic” speech assailing European democracy at the Munich Security Conference last weekend.

“Europe, for all its flaws, for all its faults, can pride itself on its sustained effort to deliver on respect for human beings through its commitment to human rights,” O’Flaherty said in an interview in Brussels.

He noted that Vance seemed “to demand some kind of absolute free speech”, while European law imposes limits on speech which could result in attacks on individuals and groups as well on dinsformation.

O’Flaherty continued, “I challenge the implication in Vice President Vance’s speech that migrants are the root of all evil in Europe. This is a much-repeated myth, which is dangerous because it puts people’s lives at risk.”

Turning to Ukraine, O’Flaherty said he was disturbed by “false attributions of responsibility”, such as Donald Trump’s statements, and pointed out that the invasion was “Russian aggression against a sovereign country”.

The Council of Europe, O’Flaherty said, would continue to “insist on a peace with justice, because a peace without justice is an unreliable thing at risk of unraveling in time”.

UPDATE 1925 GMT:

Donald Trump has launched another lie-filled diatribe against Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump snapped that Zelensky had “done a terrible job” and was a dictator “without elections”.

Without referring to Russia’s attacks, he warned that Zelensky “better move fast” or he will not have a country left.

Trump lied that Zelensky had said half of US aid to Ukraine is “MISSING”. He repeated the falsehood that the President, whose resistance of Russia’s invasion has an approval rating of 57%, is “very low in Ukrainian Polls”. He sneered, “Zelensky has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died.”

Trump lied that the US had given $350 billion in aid to Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion, that the US “has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe”, and that “Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back”.

UPDATE 1723 GMT:

Trying to sow more discord and uncertainty, Vladimir Putin has said that Donald Trump told him Ukraine will take part in future talks.

We are not imposing anything on anyone. We are ready. I have already said this a hundred times — if they want, please, let these negotiations take place. And we will be ready to return to the table for negotiations.

No one is excluding Ukraine.

Putin said he would be happy to meet Trump, but the meeting still needs to be prepared.

UPDATE 1719 GMT:

European Union foreign policy head Kaja Kallas has emphasized, while on a visit to South Africa:

We are in close contact with our US counterparts. So what they are saying is they are trying to find out whether Russia even wants peace, because so far they haven’t wanted peace.

It’s clear for any kind of peace deal to work it has to have Ukraine and Europe on board, because otherwise it will just not function. Because the implementation is in Europe, is in Ukraine.

So, nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing about Europe can be agreed without Europe’s participation.

UPDATE 1713 GMT:

In a further challenge to Donald Trump’s falsehood that he is only supported by 4% of Ukrainians, President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that making all concessions to Russia is supported by just 1%.

“That answers all questions,” he notes. Russia remains “the guilty party,” and you “cannot launder them like money” and “whitewash” their responsibility for the war.

You may think you can resolve everything with agreements. It is impossible. Nobody in Ukraine trusts Putin. We need clear security guarantees.

Zelensky referred to Wednesday’s visit to Kyiv by Trump’s envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg: “Let him walk around Kyiv and other cities. 20%, 30% of the capital is missing as it has been destroyed.”

He challenged the envoy to ask Ukrainians about their thoughts:

Let him talk to the people. Do they trust their own president, or do they trust Putin? Let him ask about Trump, what do people think about Trump after his statements.

It’s important to just go out and talk to the people. Let him choose where he goes. He has his ambassador here. It is important for him to see for himself what’s happening. And then I am ready to go to the frontline with him. We will go, let him talk to the military.

UPDATE 1703 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for implementation of security guarantees for Kyiv against Russia’s invasion.

In his press conference, Zelensky pushed aside theoretical discussion of guarantees outside NATO, as “we do not have a lot of formats for security guarantees and [time] to build something new”.

We want security guarantees this year, we want to end the war this year.

I understand that every time I say NATO, they do not want us even mentioning that word, but this is where we are.

He emphasized that Ukrainians “are not playing games…no backroom dealings. We say what we mean, whether the Russians are listening or not.”

Security guarantees could be made through NATO or through strengthening Ukraine’s armed forces with funding, weapons, and air defenses.

But “NATO is the strongest guarantee,” he explains.

The President said Ukraine is “much stronger than at the beginning of the invasion”. Because it “much more resilient…this guarantees our ability to speak with dignity, as equals, with partners, with allies or not”.

UPDATE 1305 GMT:

In a press conference, Vladimir Zelensky has turned from the US to European countries for support against Russia’s three-year invasion.

Abandoning his tactic of flattering Donald Trump, Zelensky hailed “a strong message given to Europe from Ukraine” in his discussions with European leaders, with more meetings “in the next few weeks”.

Zelensky said the discussions considered “what Europe is prepared to do to help Ukraine if there is a reduction in the assistance from the US or something else”.

He summarized, “We must count on an allied position in Europe.”

The President spoke of plans for a multilateral meeting on the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24.

Following Trump’s insults of Ukraine and his Government on Tuesday, Zelensky points to the latest poll showing 58% of Ukrainians still backing the measures to resist Russia: “So if anyone wants to replace me right now, that will not work.”

Calling out “a lot of disinformation coming from Russia”, Zelensky said, “Unfortunately, President Trump, with all due respect for him as the leader of a nation that we respect greatly … is living in this disinformation bubble.”

He warned about “the misinformation circle around President Trump”, including representatives from the governments of Hungary and Slovakia, both members of the European Union.

“This is all concerning. Everything they are doing is to make sure that Ukraine is weak,” he says.

Further confirming his change of tactics with Trump, Zelensky rejected the reality TV star’s demand for Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. A draft deal, presented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week, was “not ready,” drafted under US law, and offered inadequate compensation.

The President said he was prepared to work “on a serious document” if it contains “security guarantees”.

“I am protecting Ukraine. I can’t sell it away, I can’t sell our state,” he said.

He chided the US delegation in the talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia over their framing of the invasion as a “conflict”, rather than “simply a war by Putin against us”.

“This softens it,” he notes.

The President said the talks are “not positive for Ukraine. What it does is that they’re bringing Putin out of isolation, and the Russians are happy because the discussion focuses on them”.

Moscow was presenting itself “as a victim, and that is something new”, he added.

UPDATE 1002 GMT:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has celebrated Tuesday’s direct talks with the US by attacking the “selfish” West and Ukraine.

As the Trump Administration helped bring Russia out of international isolation over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Lavrov proclaimed:

I will tell you something that is a key issue for us at this stage of international development, and that is our move towards a multipolar world. It is a historic process, and it is to do with the subjective trend of new power centres appearing on the world map.

Our partners in the Global South and in the east are unique civilizations and religions and are members of various integration associations, but all of them are united by a desire towards development, progressive development without external pressure.

Hailing supposed partnerships with China, India, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, and some African countries, he said Russia is the leader of “progressive humanity” against the “collective West” who want to preserve their former dominance in the world”.

Lavrov then attacked Ukraine, insisting that BRICS [Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa] was “stopping the West from imposing a Ukrainian agenda”. However, Russian groups “are having a difficult time because of the Russophobia unleashed by the West”.

UPDATE 0830 GMT:

The European Union has agreed the 16th package of sanctions over the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, say EU diplomats.

The latest sanctions include a ban on imports of Russia’s primary aluminum and the listing of 73 “shadow fleet” vessels evading restrictions on Russian oil exports.

Asset bans and travel freezes have been imposed on another 48 individuals and 35 entities.

UPDATE 0826 GMT:

Donald Trump’s envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has arrived in Kyiv.

He said on arrival:

We understand the need for security guarantees. We understand…the importance of the sovereignty of this nation.

A part of my mission is to sit and listen and see what your concerns are.

He did not refer to Trump’s insults of Ukraine and the Zelensky Government.

UPDATE 0816 GMT:

At least four people, including a child, have been moderately injured by Russia drone strikes on Odesa city in southern Ukraine.

The attack damaged a children’s clinic, a kindergarten, high-rise buildings, and cars. It cut power to 14 schools, 13 kindergartens, and more than 500 houses.

UPDATE 0737 GMT:

Intelligence from US and close allies shows Vladimir Putin still wants to control all of Ukraine, says “four Western intelligence officials and two US Congressional officials”.

“We have zero intelligence that Putin is interested in a real peace deal right now,” said one of the Congressional officials.

“He thinks he’s winning,” assessed a Western intelligence official. He said Russian losses on the battlefield are not putting pressure on Putin to stop his invasion.

The officials said Putin may agree to a ceasefire and “peace deal” to would give the Russian military time to reset and rebuild. However, there is skepticism among US and Western intelligence community that Putin will compromise for a lasting agreement. Instead, he will seek what concessions he might get and try to end his international isolation.

The officials noted that Putin is not making any plans to draw down troops in Ukraine, and that he feels empowered by comments by Trump Administration officials that the US does not foresee NATO membership for Ukraine.

“His goals remain maximalist,” one Western intelligence official said.

UPDATE 0725 GMT:

While deriding Ukraine and praising Russia on Tuesday, Donald Trump said he was “all for” European peacekeepers on Ukrainian soil to monitor an agreement:

“If they want to do that, that’s great, I’m all for it,” he said. “I know France was willing to do that, and I thought that was a beautiful gesture,” adding that Britain had made a similar offer.

Trump emphasized that the US would not have to contribute “because, you know, we’re very far away”.

He appeared to be unaware that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had reiterated that the Kremlin will not accept troops from any NATO member inside Ukraine.

European Union foreign policy head Kaja Kallas posted:

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Echoing the Kremlin’s line, Donald Trump has declared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky an illegitimate leader, and labelled Ukraine as a “massive demolition site”.

Trump spoke hours after the US and Russia held their first direct talks over Moscow’s three-year invasion, excluding Ukraine and its European partners from the discussions in Saudi Arabia.

Trump chastised Ukraine for not holding elections — a theme of Russian propaganda — lying that Zelensky holds a “4% approval rating”.

In fact, despite the heavy toll from the invasion, Zelensky was trusted by 58% of Ukrainians in a January poll.

Zelensky was elected in May 2019 to a five-year term. However, under the Ukrainian Consitution, elections cannot be held during martial law, took effect after Russia’s launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Paralleling his presentation of Gaza — devastated by 15 months of Israeli attacks — Trump did not attribute the “demolition” of Ukraine to Russia’s attacks and mass killings.

Instead, he blamed the Zelensky Government for the majority of cities “blown to smithereens”: “You have leadership now that’s allowed the war to go on.”

Again echoing his comments on Gaza, where he has advocated ethnic cleansing of the population, Trump said, “I don’t know how anybody even lives there.”

In contrast, he praised Russia for “very good talks”: “They want to stop the savage barbarianism.”

He insisted that he was not just parroting Vladimir Putin’s insults of Zelensky and Ukraine, even as he justified negotiations without Kyiv:

When they want a seat at the table, wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have to say, “Like, it’s been a long time since we’ve had an election?”

That’s not a Russia thing, that’s something coming from me and coming from many other countries also. You know, Ukraine is just being wiped out.

He maintained, “People are respecting us again as a country, as a powerful country, and maybe a smart country.”

Zelensky: Decisions Cannot Be Made Without Ukraine

Just after the US-Russia meeting, Zelensky set aside his attempt to flatter Trump into maintaining support of Ukraine’s resistance. He said during a visit to Turkey:

Decisions on how to end the war in Ukraine cannot be made without Ukraine, nor can any conditions be imposed. We were not invited to this Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia. It was a surprise for us, I think for many others as well.”

The President postponed a trip on Wednesday to Saudi Arabia, saying he did not want his presence to be linked to the US-Russian encounter.

Indicating that he might have met American officials, Zelensky said, “I don’t know who will stay, who will leave, or who is planning to go where. To be honest, I don’t care. I don’t want coincidences, and that’s why I will not go to Saudi Arabia.”

In an interview with German broadcaster ARD, Zelensky addressed the issue of elections:

I’m President of Ukraine because 73% of people voted for me. And today I’m President because the majority in my country support me. I’m a patriot, just like the people defending our country.

Of course Russia wants to get rid of me. Maybe not physically any longer, like they did at the beginning of the war but politically. And that’s absolutely understandable as I’m a very uncomfortable person, uncomfortable for Putin.

Trump to Ukraine on Russia’s Invasion: “You Shouldn’t Have Started It”

Trump appeared to have been triggered by Zelensky’s criticism.

He said in his press conference “I’m very disappointed, I hear that they’re upset about not having a seat.” He declared that a “half baked” negotiator could have secured a settlement years ago “without the loss of much land”.

Once again, he blasted the Zelensky Government:

Today I heard, “Oh, well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years….You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”

Russia’s Victory in Opening Talks With US

The US and Russian delegations agreed to establish high-level teams to normalize relations, despite the ongoing invasion, with proclamations of closer ties between the Trump Administration and the Kremlin.

No details were given about Russia’s demands for long-term occupation of Crimea and four regions of Ukraine in the south and east, and for a “neutral” and demilitarized Kyiv without any security guarantees from Western allies.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointed toward the Kremlin’s goal of a lifting of American sanctions. He portrayed resolution of Moscow’s invasion as a future of economic possibility for both America and Russia:

We should engage in identifying the extraordinary opportunities that exist should this conflict come to an acceptable end…to partner with Russians geopolitically, on issues of common interest, and frankly economically.

Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz avoided comment on whether the US might recognize occupied Crimea as Russian territory or remove Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov from the American sanctions list.

A confident Lavrov hailed “very useful” talks as the two sides “did not just listen to each other, but heard each other”: “I have every reason to believe that the American side understands our position.”

He cited agreement to ensure “the speediest possible” appointment of ambassadors to both countries and the removal of barriers that “for many years, and primarily the Biden Administration in the last four years, erected between our diplomatic missions”.

With a nod towards US sanctions, he said conditions had been created for resumption of “consultations on geopolitical issues” and removal of “the artificial barriers in the way of mutually beneficial economic cooperation”.

Then he set out Russia’s precondition that any deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine is “completely unacceptable”, using Donald Trump for justification.

We noted that President Trump was the first of Western leaders to say that dragging Ukraine into NATO was one of the main [reasons behind] what is happening….

And we explained today that any appearance by armed forces from the NATO countries under some flag, under the European flag or under flags, doesn’t change anything.