Washington Reassures Ukraine of Its Role in Peace Talks with Russia

[Social Media]

 

MUNICH—In an effort to ease concerns in Kyiv, U.S. officials assured Ukraine that it would be directly involved in negotiations with Russia. This reassurance came after President Volodymyr Zelensky made it clear that Ukraine would not accept a peace deal imposed without its consent.

 

During a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations at the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized to his Ukrainian counterpart that Washington had no intention of sidelining Ukraine in diplomatic discussions. According to diplomats present, Rubio stated that it would be unwise to exclude Ukraine from negotiations.

 

Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, the Trump administration’s envoy for Ukraine, later expanded on the U.S. approach, explaining that direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would be the foundation of any peace deal, with the United States serving as a mediator. However, he offered a stark message to European leaders, asserting that they would not have a direct role in the negotiations. “I think that’s not going to happen,” Kellogg said, though he acknowledged that European countries could provide input.

 

These statements concluded a week that had unsettled trans-Atlantic relations and left Ukrainian officials questioning Washington’s intentions. The uncertainty began on Tuesday when President Trump informed Russian President Vladimir Putin of impending negotiations before publicly announcing them. Additionally, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that Ukraine’s membership in NATO was off the table and ruled out a direct U.S. role in enforcing a future peace agreement.

 

Following backlash from European allies, Hegseth later seemed to soften his stance. However, the unease deepened on Friday when Vice President JD Vance spoke at the Munich conference. Instead of outlining the U.S. strategy for Ukraine, as many European leaders had anticipated, Vance sharply criticized European governments, accusing them of suppressing free speech and disregarding public opinion.

 

The series of events left European leaders deeply concerned about the stability of the trans-Atlantic alliance, which is crucial to Europe’s security and economy. Zelensky, too, expressed doubts about Washington’s commitment to Ukraine’s cause. When asked in Munich whether he believed the Trump administration fully grasped the stakes of the war, he responded, “I will be honest. We have to work on it…There are a lot of different voices around the new American administration and I am not sure that all these voices are on our side.”

 

European leaders are now formulating a response to Washington’s approach, emphasizing that their involvement is essential for a sustainable resolution. Their argument is that European financial support will be crucial in strengthening Ukraine’s defenses and rebuilding the war-torn nation. The Trump administration has suggested that European troops may be required to help implement a peace deal, but European governments are unlikely to commit to such a role without a say in shaping the agreement.

 

European Council President António Costa underscored this point during his speech in Munich. “In a nutshell: There will be no credible and successful negotiations, no lasting peace, without Ukraine and without the European Union,” he declared.

 

Costa further stressed that any lasting resolution must recognize that the Russian threat extends beyond Ukraine. He warned against a ceasefire that would allow Russia to renew hostilities in the future. “It must guarantee that Russia will no longer be a threat to Ukraine, to Europe, to its neighbors,” he stated.

 

Discussions among European officials are now focused on coordinating a response to Washington’s position. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called an emergency meeting of foreign ministers in Munich on Sunday. Additionally, leaders from France, Britain, Poland, Germany, and other European nations are scheduled to meet in Paris on Monday to explore ways Europe can contribute to securing peace.

 

One option under consideration is deploying European troops to Ukraine, potentially extending beyond peacekeeping to include military training. This would ensure Europe has a stake in Ukraine’s security, particularly in the event of future Russian aggression.

 

Despite the U.S. dominating recent headlines, some European leaders argue that Washington is merely filling a void left by Europe’s failure to articulate a comprehensive strategy for ending the war on terms favorable to Kyiv. Finnish President Alexander Stubb voiced this sentiment, urging Europe to take decisive action. “Europe needs to get its act together. Europe needs to talk less and act more,” he said. Criticizing U.S. pronouncements was not enough, he argued. “OK, what are you going to do about it?”

 

While European leaders remain divided on their next steps, some have cautioned against an overreaction to Washington’s rhetoric. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics emphasized the complexity of the negotiations, warning against premature conclusions. “We are at the very beginning,” he said in an interview in Munich. “I view this week, especially the communication coming out from the White House or the Kremlin or President Zelensky’s office, only as the opening of the opening” of the talks.

 

As diplomatic maneuvering intensifies, all sides recognize that the coming weeks will be critical in determining the future of Ukraine, European security, and trans-Atlantic relations.

 

Based on a report by WSJ  2025-02-17

 

 

[spidermike007]

We can assure you that we're going to surrender all the gains in territory that Russia has made.

 

We can assure you that we want to negotiate directly with a dictator without your presence.

 

Furthermore we can assure you that we're putting horrendously bad negotiators on the job in the form of both Trump and Hegseth. 

 

Lastly, we can assure you that Trump adores Putin and he will do his bidding, and we will give away our negotiating positions prior to the beginning of negotiations, like a terrible negotiator does. 

 

Those are our assurances to you the Ukrainian people. 

 

And Trump was complaining that we betrayed the Afghan people, what exactly is he doing now? 

[hotsun]

4 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

We can assure you that we're going to surrender all the gains in territory that Russia has made.

 

 

All on the dems. Trumps job is to stop wasting our money

[save the frogs]

what about Steven Seagall?

is Trump planning to pull him out?

 

[soalbundy]

8 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

We can assure you that we're going to surrender all the gains in territory that Russia has made.

 

We can assure you that we want to negotiate directly with a dictator without your presence.

 

Furthermore we can assure you that we're putting horrendously bad negotiators on the job in the form of both Trump and Hegseth. 

 

Lastly, we can assure you that Trump adores Putin and he will do his bidding, and we will give away our negotiating positions prior to the beginning of negotiations, like a terrible negotiator does. 

 

Those are our assurances to you the Ukrainian people. 

 

And Trump was complaining that we betrayed the Afghan people, what exactly is he doing now? 

Just another American failure in a long line of lost proxy wars, where's John Wayne when you need him.

[mrfill]

PR version - 'Rubio emphasized to his Ukrainian counterpart that Washington had no intention of sidelining Ukraine in diplomatic discussions.'

Eye witness version - 'Rubio stated that it would be unwise to exclude Ukraine from negotiations.'

 

That's not the same thing.

[SiSePuede419]

 

Ukraine rejects initial Trump request for half it's mineral wealth 

 

In exchange for nothing? 

 

No security guarantees?

 

Donnie is such a brilliant negotiator.

 

All the subtilty of a Mafia criminal. 😄

[Eric Loh]

8 hours ago, hotsun said:

All on the dems. Trumps job is to stop wasting our money

Start with the taxpayer funded Daytona 500 north korea style propaganda joyride.

[Harrisfan]

23 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

 

Ukraine rejects initial Trump request for half it's mineral wealth 

 

In exchange for nothing? 

 

No security guarantees?

 

Donnie is such a brilliant negotiator.

 

All the subtilty of a Mafia criminal. 😄

Pretty dumb expecting a yes in a day. Proper negotiations take weeks or months. Biden had years and got nothing done 

[SiSePuede419]

18 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Biden had years and got nothing done 

Agreed that Democrats haven't been attacking the Rich Republicans who started screwing the American Middle Class since 1981...

 

By raising prices for eggs, housing, college, insurance, healthcare, dining out, dental work, etc.

 

Biden didn't stop the Rich Republicans running corporations from screwing the American Middle Class over decades.

 

True.

 

And Biden never pretended he was America's Hitler either and threaten to steal sovereign territory.

 

How right you are, Sir or Madam. 😭

[Eric Loh]

39 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Pretty dumb expecting a yes in a day. Proper negotiations take weeks or months. Biden had years and got nothing done 

Putin refused to meet Biden. Putin probably waiting to negotiate with his criminal buddy. 

[Harrisfan]

49 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Agreed that Democrats haven't been attacking the Rich Republicans who started screwing the American Middle Class since 1981...

 

By raising prices for eggs, housing, college, insurance, healthcare, dining out, dental work, etc.

 

Biden didn't stop the Rich Republicans running corporations from screwing the American Middle Class over decades.

 

True.

 

And Biden never pretended he was America's Hitler either and threaten to steal sovereign territory.

 

How right you are, Sir or Madam. 😭

Biden raised prices by 50% 

Opened borders

Did nothing to end wars

Let % on debt get to 1 trillion a year

 

Great stuff lefty 

[Harrisfan]

33 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Putin refused to meet Biden. Putin probably waiting to negotiate with his criminal buddy. 

Waiting for a senile nitwit to quit

[mrwebb8825]

I suppose after a few more meeting the EU will be prepared to issue a strongly worded letter?

[scottiejohn]

Maybe two letters!

BS!

[Tug]

On 2/16/2025 at 4:07 PM, soalbundy said:

Just another American failure in a long line of lost proxy wars, where's John Wayne when you need him.

Ahh Ukraine asked for our help we obliged because of putins criminal land grab.as far as failure for less than 5% of our defense budget Russia has been stopped and humiliated exposed for the corrupt backwards nation it is.the failure is trump snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.furthermore as an American I find it deeply offensive that the felon is choosing to align us more to putin than democracy you guys can wiggle and yap all ya like but that’s EXACTLY what he’s doing…..

[candide]

With Trump 'at the wheel', &krainians have all reasons to be scared!

It will be open bar for Russia! 😆

[beautifulthailand99]

https://www.state.gov/secretary-rubios-meeting-with-russian-foreign-minister-lavrov/

 

We agreed to:

• Establish a consultation mechanism to address irritants to our bilateral relationship with the objective of taking steps necessary to normalize the operation of our respective diplomatic missions.

• Appoint respective high-level teams to begin working on a path to ending the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible in a way that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all sides.

• Lay the groundwork for future cooperation on matters of mutual geopolitical interest and historic economic and investment opportunities which will emerge from a successful end to the conflict in Ukraine.

• The parties to today’s meetings pledge to remain engaged to make sure the process moves forward in a timely and productive manner.

[beautifulthailand99]

Time for Trump to get the Nobel Peace Prize.