Latest news with #UkrainianLunch
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US Secretary of State: European representatives must be involved in Ukraine negotiations
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that both Ukraine and European representatives will be involved in the negotiation process to end the war in Ukraine once it begins. Source: Rubio in an interview with CBS News Quote: "We have to understand, right now there is no process. What we have right now is a call between Putin and President Trump in which both sides expressed an interest in ending this conflict. I imagine there will be follow-up conversations to figure out what a process to talk about that [negotiations] would look like, and then at that point, perhaps we can begin to share more details. …Ultimately, it will reach a point when it's real negotiations, and we're not there yet, but if that were to happen, Ukraine will have to be involved, because they're the ones that were invaded, and the Europeans will have to be involved because they have sanctions on Putin and Russia as well and they've contributed to this effort. We're just not there yet. We really aren't, but hopefully we will be, because we'd all like to see this war end." Background: On 15 February, Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, stated at the Ukrainian Lunch during the Munich Security Conference that the US stance on "peace negotiations" includes Ukraine's participation but does not see a role for European representatives. Kellogg described himself as a "realist", saying that while he does not fundamentally oppose the involvement of European politicians in the negotiations, he does not consider it necessary to include those who are "part of the problem". On 13 February, the Kremlin announced that it had begun forming a negotiating team to organise a meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. Trump said he had tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff with leading the negotiations with Russia. At the same time, the US president asserted that Ukraine would have a seat at the table in the negotiations on "ending the war". Support UP or become our patron!
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration minister confirms Hungary's blocking of Kyiv's EU accession process
Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Minister of Justice, has stated that Hungary has used the principle of unanimity in EU enlargement decisions to block Ukraine's progress on the path to accession. Source: Stefanishyna in a comment to European Pravda Details: Stefanishyna briefly spoke about the problems encountered in the accession process during a public discussion at the Ukrainian Lunch organised by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Munich. Quote: "As we speak here, one member state is blocking Ukraine's accession process to the EU – it happened just yesterday." More details: At first, Stefanishyna did not provide any additional information. Later, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Stefanishyna admitted that it was Hungary. Earlier, Polish broadcaster RMF 24 had reported, citing sources, that the Hungarians had blocked the opening of the first negotiation cluster. Quote: "Indeed, our counterparts from [EU] member states have informed us that the representatives of the EU countries failed to approve an official invitation to Ukraine to open the first cluster of negotiations on EU accession. Hungary is reported to be demanding that the list of conditions imposed on Ukraine be expanded." More details: Ukraine and the EU are preparing to enter the practical phase of negotiations, beginning with the opening of the Fundamentals cluster. Under the standard EU enlargement process, a candidate country must first agree with Brussels on two roadmaps: one for the rule of law, including human rights, and another for public administration reform. The implementation of these roadmaps will shape Ukraine's overall progress in the negotiations. Hungary is demanding that the EU include a third requirement in Ukraine's accession process – a plan for the protection of national minorities. This disagreement has completely stalled progress on starting negotiations, as no further decisions can be made without opening the Fundamentals. It remains unclear how long the delay may last. When asked by European Pravda, Stefanishyna declined to make any predictions. "We hope that the process will be unblocked shortly, but for now, we are waiting for details and are ready to explain what steps Kyiv is already taking in cooperation with the Hungarian minority," she said. Background: Earlier, the EU stated that Ukraine can open all negotiations clusters by the year's end. Support UP or become our patron!
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's special Ukraine envoy explains division of roles in US negotiations to end war
US President Donald Trump has assigned roles to officials in charge of preparing "peace talks" to end the Russo-Ukrainian war. Source: General Keith Kellogg at the Ukrainian Lunch organised by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, a Ukrainian charitable organisation, at the Munich Security Conference, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kellogg stated that he is involved in this process despite rumours of his removal spreading after a recent conversation between the US President and Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin. After his conversation with Putin, Trump announced a negotiating team that included his special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, but did not mention Kellogg. Kellogg clarified that he is not involved in the Russian issue. The general explained that Witkoff works more on the US-Russian line while he works on the US-Ukrainian-European line. However, General Kellogg stressed that he would not make any decisions, as his task was to lay the groundwork for Trump's decisions. "One of the reasons I'm here is to reach out to the Allies and we say, 'What do you think?'. And then I bring it back to the person that does make the decision. Keith Kellogg does not make the decisions, it's the president of the United States. I will never move into his territory of decision-making", he explained. Kellogg also stated that he believes Trump's work is effective, adding that they had done more in the last 30 days to end the war than the previous administration had in three years. Notably, in his speech, the general did not mention Ukraine's victory or superiority, focusing instead on the end of the war. Background: On Saturday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that NATO should form the foundation of security guarantees, though he acknowledged there is an alternative. In Europe, discussions are ongoing about actions that could take place without the United States. Specifically, Germany may begin supplying Taurus missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the country's elections. Support UP or become our patron!
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US does not envision Europeans participating in peace talks with Russia
The US position on the peace talks foresees Ukraine's participation, but other European representatives are not included. Source: General Keith Kellogg at the Ukrainian Lunch organised by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, a Ukrainian charity organisation, at the Munich Security Conference, as reported by European Pravda Details: Answering the question about the participation of Ukraine and Europe in future peace talks, he repeatedly assured that Ukraine will and should be a participant in the negotiations. Quote from Keith Kellogg: "The United States has never said that Ukrainians should be excluded from the discussion." Details: However, Kellogg did not mention the participation of representatives of other European states. When asked by the host of the meeting to explain what this meant, Kellogg said that he was a "realist." Although he was not against the participation of European politicians in the negotiations, he did not consider it necessary to involve those who were "part of the problem". Quote from Keith Kellogg: "Recall Minsk-2 – there were a bunch of European leaders there, and they failed terribly." Background: This position is completely different from the position of the EU countries, which state that a peace agreement without Europe is not an option. Keith Kellogg explained the division of roles in the US negotiations to end the war. Support UP or become our patron!
