Zelenskyy says excluding Ukraine from U.S.-Russia talks about war is ’very dangerous’

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy calls for U.S. involvement in ceasefire talks with Russia amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday (February 1, 2025) that excluding his country from talks between the U.S. and Russia about the war in Ukraine would be “very dangerous" and asked for more discussions between Kyiv and Washington to develop a plan for a ceasefire.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Mr. Zelenskyy said Russia does not want to engage in ceasefire talks or to discuss any kind of concessions, which the Kremlin interprets as losing at a time when its troops have the upper hand on the battlefield.

He said U.S. President Donald Trump could bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the table with the threat of sanctions targeting Russia’s energy and banking system, as well as continued support of the Ukrainian military.

“I think these are the closest and most important steps,” he said in the interview in the Ukrainian capital that lasted for more than an hour.

Mr. Zelenskyy's remarks followed comments Friday (January 31, 2025) by Mr. Trump, who said American and Russian officials were “already talking” about ending the war. Mr. Trump said his administration has had “very serious” discussions with Russia, but he did not elaborate.

“They may have their own relations, but talking about Ukraine without us — it is dangerous for everyone,” Mr. Zelenskyy said.

He said his team has been in contact with the Trump administration, but those discussions are at a “general level,” and he believes in-person meetings will take place soon to develop more detailed agreements.