Russia on Wednesday dismissed the significance of European diplomatic consultations with Ukraine, describing them as “insignificant” in the lead-up to the scheduled summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Russian Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Alexey Fadeev stated during a briefing that “we consider the consultations sought by the Europeans to be politically and practically insignificant.” He accused the European Union of undermining efforts by Washington and Moscow to address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. “The Europeans verbally support the diplomatic efforts of Washington and Moscow to resolve the crisis around Ukraine, but in fact the European Union is sabotaging them,” he alleged.
The remarks came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders prepared for urgent discussions with Trump on Wednesday, seeking to ensure that Kyiv’s concerns are safeguarded during the upcoming summit with Putin, set for Friday. The meeting is expected to proceed without Zelensky’s participation, raising concerns in Kyiv that Ukraine may face pressure to accept difficult compromises, particularly concerning territorial issues.
Zelensky has repeatedly called for a comprehensive ceasefire, a demand Russia has rejected. In the days leading up to the talks, the Ukrainian leader, who has engaged with over 30 world leaders recently, stressed that “pressure must be exerted on Russia for the sake of a fair peace.”
On Tuesday, European Union leaders reaffirmed “the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny” and emphasized that “international borders must not be changed by force.”
However, Fadeev dismissed such statements, claiming that the EU’s stance “about supposed support for finding peaceful solutions is just another attempt to stall the settlement process.” He further noted, “We will monitor the actions of European countries in connection with the upcoming summit and hope that no steps will be taken that would prevent it from taking place and reaching constructive agreements.”
What you should know
The upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska has heightened geopolitical tensions, with Ukraine and European leaders pressing to protect Kyiv’s interests while Russia questions Europe’s role in peace efforts.
The exclusion of Zelensky from the meeting has fueled concerns about potential territorial concessions.
