Zelensky urges West ‘do not trust Putin’ as fears grow of Ukraine being excluded from Trump’s peace talks

UKRAINE President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned the West against trusting Vladimir Putin — amid fears his embattled federation is being frozen retired of bid talks with Russia.

And helium admitted playing second fiddle to the Russian invaders was “not precise pleasant”.

Mr Zelensky said helium had “warned satellite leaders against trusting Putin’s claims of readiness to extremity the war”.

In a connection connected X aft speaking with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, helium declared: “I emphasized that Ukraine indispensable negociate from a presumption of strength, with beardown and reliable information guarantees.

“Nato rank would beryllium the astir cost-effective for partners. Another cardinal warrant is superior concern successful Ukraine’s defence industry.”

Mr Zelensky was backed by allies including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who insisted that Ukraine indispensable play a cardinal relation successful negotiations to extremity the three-year conflict.

On Wednesday night, US President Donald Trump announced contiguous negotiations to extremity the warfare successful Ukraine aft speaking with Russian tyrant Putin by telephone for 90 minutes.

But his defence caput warned determination was no imaginable of Ukraine getting backmost territory stolen by Russia and the state was improbable to articulation Nato.

Mr Trump aboriginal called Mr Zelensky to “inform him of the conversation” that helium had with Putin.

The Ukrainian President yesterday claimed Mr Trump told him his archetypal program had been to talk to some himself and Putin astatine the aforesaid time.

Mr Zelensky said: “It is precise important for america to support the enactment of the United States.

“But it’s not precise pleasant . . . knowing however Ukrainian nine and Europeans respond — thing astir Ukraine indispensable beryllium decided without Ukraine.”

He said his precedence present is simply a face-to-face gathering with Mr Trump and added: “After a program to halt Putin has been worked out, I deliberation it is just to speech to the Russians.”

On his Truth Social online connection platform, Mr Trump declared: “Great talks with Russia and Ukraine yesterday. Good anticipation of ending that horrible, precise bloody war!!!”

He besides said helium hoped to meet Putin face-to-face successful Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, European leaders fearfulness that Russia volition usage immoderate ceasefire arsenic an excuse to rearm earlier a propulsion to prehend the remainder of Ukraine.

PM Sir Keir yesterday warned that Britain volition not enactment immoderate bid woody which excludes Kyiv.

Downing Street besides admitted that successful the look of a caller satellite order, wherever the US cannot warrant security, each European nations indispensable bolster armies.

No 'backroom deal'

Ahead of a gathering astatine the Munich Security Conference betwixt US Vice President JD Vance and Mr Zelensky, Sir Keir said: “Nobody wants the struggle to proceed and Ukrainians — much than anybody — privation the struggle to end. But we indispensable marque definite Ukraine is astatine the bosom of this.

“There can’t beryllium negotiations astir Ukraine without Ukraine being astatine the bosom of it. It’s truly important that Ukraine is successful the strongest imaginable position, whether that’s successful discussions, oregon whether it’s continued fighting.”

And UK Defence Secretary John Healey reiterated “there tin beryllium nary dialog astir Ukraine without Ukraine”. His US counterpart Pete Hegseth was yesterday forced to contradict Mr Trump had done a backroom woody with Putin.

But helium insisted immoderate bid statement would not see Nato rank for Ukraine oregon the instrumentality of Crimea and parts of the Donbas region, which were annexed by Russia successful 2014.

Mr Hegseth added: “There is nary betrayal there. There is simply a designation that the full satellite and the United States is invested and funny successful peace. That volition necessitate some sides recognising things they don’t privation to.”

Labour’s Tan Dhesi, president of the Commons Defence Committee, cautioned that “Europe volition present person to play a greater relation successful the defence of Ukraine and successful guaranteeing Ukraine’s security”.

He said: “We number connected the UK Government to amusement enactment successful this.

“If we don’t enactment Ukraine, Russia volition beryllium emboldened.”

European allies person been stunned by Mr Trump’s attempts to marque a deal.

Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas insisted that nary woody “behind our backs” could work, arsenic she accused Washington DC of appeasement towards Russia.

She said: “Any speedy hole is simply a soiled deal. It volition conscionable simply not work.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected immoderate “dictated peace” and his defence curate called it regrettable that Trump’s medication was already making concessions to the Kremlin.

Nato main Mark Rutte said it was important Kyiv was intimately progressive successful immoderate talks astir the warfare successful Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said yesterday that Ukraine “will of course, 1 mode oregon another, beryllium taking portion successful the negotiations”.

But Mr Trump’s erstwhile nationalist information advisor John Bolton said: “I deliberation Putin couldn’t beryllium happier.

“I archer you, they’re drinking vodka consecutive retired of the vessel successful the Kremlin.

“It was a large time for Moscow.”