Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference, where discussions will likely focus on continued American support for Ukraine amid ongoing war tensions. Additionally, Zelensky is expected to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This meeting comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s unexpected announcement that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The revelation has sparked concern among Ukraine and its European allies, who fear potential negotiations between Washington and Moscow could sideline Kyiv’s interests.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump suggested that Russian representatives would be present at the Munich conference and hinted that they could engage with U.S. and Ukrainian officials. However, a senior Ukrainian official dismissed the notion, stating that no direct negotiations with Russia were planned."Russia will be there with our people," Trump remarked. "Ukraine is also invited—though I don’t know exactly who will be attending from each country—but there will be high-level figures from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States."
Trump’s comments followed separate phone calls he held with both Putin and Zelensky. Describing the discussions as "great," he expressed optimism about the prospects of ending what he called a "horrible, very bloody war." However, he also cast doubt on Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, calling its potential membership impractical, and indicated that returning to its pre-2014 borders was unlikely.
Zelensky, while acknowledging that it was "not very pleasing" for Trump to have spoken with Putin first, insisted that Ukraine would not accept any peace agreement made without its direct involvement.
"As an independent nation, we cannot accept such a deal," he emphasized, underscoring that Ukraine’s primary concern remains securing long-term safety guarantees, which he does not see happening without American backing.
The possibility of U.S.-Russia negotiations without Ukrainian input has alarmed European leaders, who fear it could lead to a settlement that compromises Ukraine’s sovereignty.French President Emmanuel Macron reinforced the stance that Zelensky alone has the authority to negotiate with Russia on Ukraine’s behalf. "A peace agreement that amounts to capitulation would be a disaster for everyone," he warned.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed similar concerns, stating, "Any rushed deal would be a betrayal."Zelensky’s objective in meeting with Vance appears clear—he hopes to secure continued U.S. support and ensure that Ukraine remains an active participant in any peace discussions.
What the U.S. seeks from this meeting is less clear. While Vance may reassure Zelensky of Ukraine’s involvement in future negotiations, there is speculation that he may also deliver a more difficult message—that Washington no longer envisions Ukraine as a potential NATO member and that ending the war may require Ukraine to cede some of its territory currently under Russian control.
This aligns with comments made earlier this week by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who stated that Ukraine would not be joining NATO—though he later attempted to soften the remarks.
For Zelensky, this could be a hard reality to accept. The continued military assistance that Ukraine relies on to sustain its defense appears uncertain, given the growing reluctance within Trump’s administration and the Republican-controlled Congress to maintain current levels of aid.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been raging for nearly three years, following Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022. Prior to that, tensions had been simmering since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
While Moscow’s initial push to capture Kyiv was unsuccessful, Russian forces have managed to seize about 20% of Ukrainian territory in the country’s east and south. Meanwhile, Ukraine has launched counterattacks, including drone and artillery strikes, and has recently conducted a limited ground offensive into Russia’s Kursk region.
Both governments have been tight-lipped about casualty numbers, but estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of soldiers have been killed or wounded, while millions of Ukrainian civilians have been displaced, seeking refuge in other countries.
As Zelensky heads into high-stakes meetings in Munich, the question remains: Will the U.S. continue to back Ukraine as it has, or is Washington shifting toward a new approach—one that may not align with Kyiv’s vision for the future?
