CHICAGO (WLS) — A summit on American soil without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outrages Ukrainian-Americans living in the Chicago area. Many doubted any meaningful deal would be struck between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
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Ukrainian pride has never wavered in Ukrainian Village since Russia invaded Ukraine three and half years ago. The picture of President Trump rolling out the red carpet for Putin on American soil to shake the Russian leader’s hand is not making Ukrainian-Americans prideful of being an American.
“I was thinking what if Hitler was invited to the same negotiation, how would people in America feel about it?” said Dr. Mariya Dmytriv Kapeniak, Ukrainian Congress Committee Illinois Division President.
Dr. Dmytriv Kapeniak calls the summit on American soil a betrayal to Ukraine.
The fact that the American and the Russian presidents are meeting without the country that is being invaded right now… it only reinforces the idea that, hey, we’re back in the Cold War era.
Zoryana Smozhanyk, Ukrainian Daughter’s Foundation President
“The fact that Putin is invited to American soil while he should be just in jail, he should be arrested for all the war crimes that he has committed, and keep committing every day,” Dr. Dmytriv Kapeniak said.
Russia continues to bomb Ukraine even as he attends the summit with Trump. July was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since May 2022.
“America isn’t supporting Ukraine,” said Zoryana Smozhanyk, Ukrainian Daughter’s Foundation President. “Right now, America is supporting a terrorist nation. We’re allowing an international criminal. We’re allowing a terrorist to step foot on American soil.”
Ukranian-Americans say if President Trump and Putin were serious about peace, Ukrainian President Zelensky would have been included. He was not invited.
“The fact that the American and the Russian presidents are meeting without the country that is being invaded right now, and potentially sounding like they’re making deals behind Ukraine’s back about it, it only reinforces the idea that, hey, we’re back in the Cold War era,” Smozhanyk said.
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Smozhank and Dr. Dmytriv Kapeniak believe Putin has no interest in peace. They say the Russian leader is only meeting with Trump to show his own citizens strength.
“As a KGB agent, we know he’s a master manipulator,” Dr. Dmytriv Kapeniak said. “He’s been master manipulated, not just into American politics, but throughout the world.”
Ukranian-Americans say the only positive that will cone from the summit is it may get Americans and others to focus on Ukraine again.
Friday’s summit took place few days before Ukraine’s Independence Day. Events are planned for next weekend, including a forum of experts is planned in Ukranian Village. On Saturday, there will be a flag raising in Daley Plaza, and on the actual day of independence, August 24, a big march and rally will be held downtown.
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