Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that a “big agreement” proposed by US President Donald Trump to end the Russia-Ukraine war could be dangerous, saying Moscow has shown no sign it is ready for a settlement.
“Between us, for me it’s not simple, and it can be dangerous,” Zelenskyy told CNN when asked about the framework Trump had mentioned, according to an interview excerpt published on Friday.
Trump confirmed on Thursday that he had met Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who attended a White House event hosted by US first lady Melania Trump earlier that day.
Asked about the discussions, Trump said: “I can't tell you what I discussed. But I'm just telling you, it's going to be an agreement, it's going to be a big agreement.”
He added that the deal would extend beyond Ukraine and could involve all of Europe, saying “everyone’s going to be thrilled”.
In his interview, Zelenskyy said several proposals and discussions were under way, some of which he described as “useful and very important”. He reiterated his support for a ceasefire in Ukraine followed by de-escalation.
But he said Moscow had given no indication it was prepared to take steps towards peace.
“We didn’t see yet any kind of demonstration and signals from Russian side that they are ready to do something. … That’s why it’s dangerous,” he said.
Rejecting ‘Yalta 2’
Zelenskyy accused Moscow of seeking talks on a new European security architecture instead of discussing a settlement, warning that this posed risks to the continent, particularly the European Union.
“We don’t want to have Yalta, Yalta 2. We are not ready for such (a) format. We don’t want to be divided by Russia,” he said.
He was referring to the 1945 Yalta Conference, where Allied powers discussed Europe’s post-war order.
Zelenskyy also stressed that sovereignty and territorial integrity were essential for every independent country, adding that its neighbours must respect those principles for it to become a “free, democratic country”.
