The French weekly news magazine Le Point reported that U.S President Donald Trump may attend a parade in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, citing anonymous sources. However, Trump denied these claims, stating that he had no intentions of traveling to Moscow. Additionally, Trump mentioned a potential minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine that would provide the U.S. with a 50% cut of revenues from Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and resources in exchange for previous military support. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had rejected this deal, citing that the U.S. had not provided anywhere near the demanded $500 billion in military or financial aid and had not offered specific security guarantees.
European allies have shown support for Zelenskyy amid fears of Trump’s pivot to Moscow and concerns that peace negotiations may favor Russia without Ukraine’s direct involvement. A crisis summit was held in Paris by European leaders, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, while U.S. officials met Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia. However, Ukrainian and European representatives were not invited to these talks, leading to an exchange of critical statements between Trump and Zelenskyy. Trump suggested that Ukraine had started the war, prompting Zelenskyy to accuse Trump of living in a “disinformation bubble.” Trump later called Zelenskyy a dictator for not holding fresh elections after his mandate expired.
In a radio interview with Fox News, Trump continued to criticize Zelenskyy, stating that the Ukrainians were not necessary for ceasefire talks and accusing Zelenskyy of mishandling the war. However, the White House’s Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, held talks with Zelenskyy and praised him as an “embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war.” Macron and UK leader Keir Starmer are scheduled to separately visit Washington for discussions with Trump on ways to end the war in Ukraine. Trump referred to Macron as a friend but criticized both leaders, stating that they had not taken any action to resolve the conflict.
Overall, the situation between the U.S., Ukraine, and European allies remains tense, with conflicting statements and actions from Trump and Zelenskyy. While Trump is facing criticism for his potential pivot towards Moscow and handling of negotiations, Zelenskyy has been hailed by some as a courageous leader in the face of conflict. The involvement of European leaders in discussions with Trump indicates a continued effort to find solutions to the ongoing war in Ukraine, despite the exclusion of Ukrainian representatives from recent talks. The dynamics of the relationships between these key players will likely continue to influence the direction of peace negotiations and resolutions in the region.
