Zelensky: It Belongs Neither Here Nor There…

After the leaders of the United States and Russia held talks on ending the Ukraine crisis, ignoring Kiev’s demands, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seems to have given up hope on the White House.

US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12, where they discussed various issues. The main agenda item of the meeting was negotiations on ending the Ukraine crisis. In this regard, Special Representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Rodion Miroshnik stated that the upcoming US-Russia talks caused concern among Kiev officials and some European representatives.

Although Ukrainian President Zelensky indirectly sent a message to Trump saying, “We will not accept any agreement reached without Ukraine’s participation,” negotiations on the Ukraine crisis are expected to begin after the talks between Trump and Putin.

On the other hand, Germany, France, England, Poland, Italy, Spain, the European External Action Service and the European Commission, in a joint statement on Thursday, February 13, emphasized their support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and announced their readiness to cooperate with the US for a “just and lasting peace.” This statement shows that European countries also accept the negotiations the US is conducting with Russia.

One of the most important reasons for the Ukraine-Russia war can be seen as Kiev’s efforts to join NATO. Western leaders say that Ukraine’s NATO membership depends on the end of the war.

Despite this, the war continues and Zelensky's efforts to convince NATO leaders are in vain. In particular, the new US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, stated during his first overseas visit to Germany to attend the NATO defense ministers' meeting that "according to Washington, Ukraine's return to its 2014 borders is impossible."

The situation that the Ukrainian government finds itself in today brings to mind the saying, “Neither here nor there.”