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Peace talks to end the war in Ukraine could still be months away, the Kremlin has said, after Volodymyr Zelensky vowed he would not accept an agreement without Ukraine’s input.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday preparations for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump could take months, but that both sides agreed the Saudi capital Riyadh was a suitable location.
He also said that while Ukraine would participate “one way or another” in conversations to end the war, there would be a separate US-Russian track to the talks.
The US president hailed the “great talks” he had with both parties on Wednesday, but his announcement caused concern in Europe that a deal could be done over their heads, one that may lead to Ukraine being carved up and the continent’s security being compromised.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Zelensky said: “We cannot accept it, as an independent country, any agreements (made) without us.
“I articulate this very clearly to our partners. Any bilateral negotiations about Ukraine, not on other topics, but any bilateral talks about Ukraine without us, we will not accept.”
(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
Athena Stavrou13 February 2025 17:03
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has insisted other Nato allies spend more on their own defence.
He said that the US will expect allies “to spend more” on their own defence in their country and continent, and said the US can no longer “have the expectation of being the permanent guarantor.”
“I don’t think an unwillingness of Nato allies to invest in their own defence spending can be dismissed away by trying to point at the £900mn the US has invested around the globe including the Nato alliance,” he said.”
“Ultimately, we are very much committed to the Nato alliance and to our allies. But without burden sharing, without creating the right set of incentives for European countries to invest then we would be forced to attempt to be everywhere for everybody all the time.
“Which in a world of fiscal restraints is…just not reality.”
He added: “We will continue to spend robustly, but our expectation … is that you have to spend more. On your defence, for your country, on that continent. Understanding that the American military and the American people stand beside you as we have in Nato. But can’t have the expectation of being the permanent guarantor as I alluded to from what even Eisenhower observed post ww2.
“That shift has to happen”
Athena Stavrou13 February 2025 16:35
The US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Europe against treating America like a “sucker” by making it responsible for its defence.
“Make no mistake, President Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into ‘Uncle Sucker,'” Hegseth told a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
He said that Europe should be primarily responsible for defence on the European continent and added later: “Europe has to spend more.”
Athena Stavrou13 February 2025 16:18
When asked if he could be give a guarantee that Europe would be included in the negotiations and Ukraine would be able to reject a bad deal, US Secretary Pete Hegseth said: “The president will lead negotiations alongside the secretary of state and the national security advisor.
“We’ve played our role in talking to our Nato allies in what that would look like.”
He added that president Trump spoke to both Zelensky and Putin on Wednesday and said: “Any negotiations had will be had with both.”
Athena Stavrou13 February 2025 16:13
When asked what leverage Ukraine will be left with US Secretary Pete Hegseth said: “I think it’s a cheap political point to say we’ve left all the negotiation cards off the table by recognising some realities on the ground.”
He added that Zelensky, Putin and Trump all “understood the realities on the ground”.
Athena Stavrou13 February 2025 16:08
US Secretary Pete Hegseth is holding a press conference currently.
He said called for Nato allies to increase defence spending and said the US is seeking a diplomatic, peaceful end to the Ukraine war in a manner than creates enduring peace.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Athena Stavrou13 February 2025 16:02
Peace talks to end the war in Ukraine could still be months away, the Kremlin has said, after Volodymyr Zelensky vowed he would not accept an agreement without Ukraine’s input.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday preparations for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump could take months, but that both sides agreed the Saudi capital Riyadh was a suitable location.
He also said that while Ukraine would participate “one way or another” in conversations to end the war, there would be a separate US-Russian track to the talks.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (via REUTERS)
The Kremlin has said Ukraine will participate in peace talks “one way or another”, Reuters reports.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said but there would be a separate US-Russian track to the talks, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
Another agency, Interfax, quoted Peskov as saying that preparation for a meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump could take up to several months, but both sides agreed the Saudi capital Riyadh was a suitable location.
It comes after president Zelensky said he would reject any peace deal made without Ukraine’s input.
Kyiv is yet to respond to the Kremlin’s comments.
Athena Stavrou13 February 2025 15:15
Athena Stavrou13 February 2025 15:02
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth signaled a dramatic shift in American military policy towards Europe during a speech in Brussels on Wednesday.
“We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine,” Mr Hegseth said. “But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”
This marks a stark turn from the previous Joe Biden administration’s support for Ukraine to eject Russian forces from its land completely. The hardline stance under the Trump regime has already faced backlash, with accusations that the US is “betraying” Ukraine.
See where the 2014 borders were mapped and read the full story here:
Athena Stavrou13 February 2025 14:46