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Ukrainian diplomat involved in 90s nuclear deal with Russia warns Trump about 'very big mistake' with Putin
Ukrainian diplomat involved in 90s nuclear deal with Russia warns Trump about 'very big mistake' with Putin

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

Ukrainian diplomat involved in 90s nuclear deal with Russia warns Trump about 'very big mistake' with Putin

Ukrainians have given a lukewarm reaction to this week's White House summit. There is bafflement and unease here after US President Donald Trump switched sides to support his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, dropping calls for a ceasefire and proposing that Ukraine surrender territory. While allies are talking up the prospects of progress, people here remain unconvinced. Ukraine war latest - Trump rules out using US troops The Trump administration's contradictory statements on possible security guarantees are causing concern here. MP Lesia Vasylenko told Sky News it is not at all clear what the allies have in mind. "Who is going to be there backing Ukraine in case Russia decides to revisit their imperialistic plans and strategies and in case they want to restart this war of aggression?" For many Ukrainians, there is a troubling sense of deja vu. In the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine agreed to give up not land but its nuclear arsenal, inherited from the Soviet Union, in return for security assurances from Russia and other powers. They know how that ended up to their enormous cost. Putin reneged on Russia's side of the bargain, with his invasion of Crimea in 2014 and once again with his full-scale attack three and a half years ago. We met veteran Ukrainian diplomat Yuri Kostenko, who helped lead those negotiations in the 90s. He said there is a danger the world makes the same mistake and trusts Vladimir Putin when he says he wants to stop the killing, something Mr Trump said he now believes. "It's not true, it's not true, Russia never, never, it's my practices in more than 30 years, Russia never stop their aggression plans to occupy all Ukraine and I think that Mr Trump, if he really believes Mr Putin, it will be a very big mistake, Mr Trump, a very big mistake." Before the Alaska summit, allies agreed the best path to peace was forcing Mr Putin to stop his invasion, hitting him where it hurts with severe sanctions on his oil trade. But Mr Trump has given up calls for a ceasefire and withdrawn threats to impose those tougher sanctions. Instead, he has led allies down a different and more uncertain path. Read more on Sky News:Putin wasn't there, but influenced summitPeace further away, not closer Ukrainians we met on the streets of Kyiv said they would love to believe in progress more than anything, but are not encouraged by what they are hearing. While the diplomacy moves on in an unclear direction, events on the ground and in the skies above Ukraine are depressingly predictable. Russia is continuing hundreds of drone attacks every night, and its forces are advancing on the front. If Vladimir Putin really wants this war to end, he's showing no sign of it, while Ukrainians fear Donald Trump is taking allies down a blind alley of fruitless diplomacy.

Ukrainian diplomat involved in 90s nuclear deal with Russia warns Trump about 'very big mistake' with Putin
Ukrainian diplomat involved in 90s nuclear deal with Russia warns Trump about 'very big mistake' with Putin

Sky News

time6 hours ago

  • Politics
  • Sky News

Ukrainian diplomat involved in 90s nuclear deal with Russia warns Trump about 'very big mistake' with Putin

Ukrainians have given a lukewarm reaction to this week's White House summit. There is bafflement and unease here after US President Donald Trump switched sides to support his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, dropping calls for a ceasefire and proposing that Ukraine surrender territory. While allies are talking up the prospects of progress, people here remain unconvinced. 4:14 The Trump administration's contradictory statements on possible security guarantees are causing concern here. MP Lesia Vasylenko told Sky News it is not at all clear what the allies have in mind. "Who is going to be there backing Ukraine in case Russia decides to revisit their imperialistic plans and strategies and in case they want to restart this war of aggression?" For many Ukrainians, there is a troubling sense of deja vu. 0:46 In the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine agreed to give up not land but its nuclear arsenal, inherited from the Soviet Union, in return for security assurances from Russia and other powers. They know how that ended up to their enormous cost. Putin reneged on Russia's side of the bargain, with his invasion of Crimea in 2014 and once again with his full-scale attack three and a half years ago. We met veteran Ukrainian diplomat Yuri Kostenko, who helped lead those negotiations in the 90s. He said there is a danger the world makes the same mistake and trusts Vladimir Putin when he says he wants to stop the killing, something Mr Trump said he now believes. "It's not true, it's not true, Russia never, never, it's my practices in more than 30 years, Russia never stop their aggression plans to occupy all Ukraine and I think that Mr Trump, if he really believes Mr Putin, it will be a very big mistake, Mr Trump, a very big mistake." Before the Alaska summit, allies agreed the best path to peace was forcing Mr Putin to stop his invasion, hitting him where it hurts with severe sanctions on his oil trade. But Mr Trump has given up calls for a ceasefire and withdrawn threats to impose those tougher sanctions. Instead, he has led allies down a different and more uncertain path. Ukrainians we met on the streets of Kyiv said they would love to believe in progress more than anything, but are not encouraged by what they are hearing. While the diplomacy moves on in an unclear direction, events on the ground and in the skies above Ukraine are depressingly predictable. Russia is continuing hundreds of drone attacks every night, and its forces are advancing on the front. If Vladimir Putin really wants this war to end, he's showing no sign of it, while Ukrainians fear Donald Trump is taking allies down a blind alley of fruitless diplomacy.

Putin Cant Be Trusted: Europe Draws Red Line Putin Cant Be Trusted: Europe Draws Red Line
Putin Cant Be Trusted: Europe Draws Red Line Putin Cant Be Trusted: Europe Draws Red Line

News18

time15 hours ago

  • Politics
  • News18

Putin Cant Be Trusted: Europe Draws Red Line Putin Cant Be Trusted: Europe Draws Red Line

Putin Cant Be Trusted: Europe Draws Red Line Last Updated: August 19, 2025, 15:20 IST Breaking News Videos Macron, Merz defy Trump pressure after #WhiteHouseSummit, stress that Ukraines sovereignty and military strength must be protected in any peace agreement homevideos Putin Cant Be Trusted: Europe Draws Red Line CNN name, logo and all associated elements ® and © 2024 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them. © Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2024. All rights reserved.

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