Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with leaders of the Nordic Baltic Eight countries, has released a statement saying Russia cannot be trusted to keep its word in peace negotiations.
Zelenskyy issues strong words against Russia during Trump-Putin talks
The remarks came days after US president Donald Trump held face-to-face talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, in a bid to end the war.
The war, now in its third year, has already claimed more than 60,000 lives. Trump has described his mission as being about “saving a lot of lives” and insisted he is not seeking economic deals with Russia but focusing solely on peace.
In their statement, the Nordic Baltic Eight — Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden — pledged full support to Ukraine.
They backed efforts by Trump to end the conflict but stressed that only Ukraine should decide its own future.
“Experience has shown that Putin cannot be trusted. Ultimately it is Russia’s responsibility to end its blatant violations of international law,” the leaders declared.
The joint statement also demanded that Russia return abducted Ukrainian children and release prisoners of war and civilian detainees.
It added that European nations will keep arming Ukraine and increasing sanctions against Russia “as long as Russia continues its killing.”
Trump and Putin meet in Alaska
The Trump-Putin summit was arranged on neutral ground in Alaska, chosen for its proximity to Russian territory while remaining under US control. The meeting, long in preparation, comes with enormous stakes.
Before boarding Air Force One, Trump told reporters:
“I’m not doing this for my health. I don’t need it. I’d like to focus on our country.”
He added that the main goal of his meeting with Putin was to stop further loss of life.
Putin, meanwhile, travelled to Alaska with little fanfare, stopping in the Russian port city of Magadan on his way. There he visited local production facilities before continuing his journey.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy said it was crucial that the discussions include Ukraine directly and not just the United States and Russia.
“It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America,” he said.
Zelenskyy emphasised that any peace plan must involve Ukraine, the US, and Russia working together. He called for a “real path toward a just peace,” insisting that his country will continue to defend its sovereignty and independence.
Commentators suggest that the best possible outcome from the Trump-Putin talks is a temporary ceasefire, with more detailed negotiations to follow.
BBC journalist Vitaliy Shevchenko warned that the worst-case scenario would be Trump offering Ukrainian territory to Putin — something Zelenskyy would reject outright.