A U.S. envoy met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Thursday, following a series of controversial remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that have strained relations between the two wartime allies. While the meeting aimed to address tensions, no immediate details emerged on whether progress had been made in mending the rift.
Zelenskiy initially reacted strongly after Trump accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia and labeled him a “dictator.” However, the Ukrainian leader later adopted a more diplomatic tone, emphasizing the need for continued dialogue with Washington. The meeting with Trump’s Ukraine and Russia envoy, Keith Kellogg, was seen as a crucial step in navigating the evolving U.S.-Ukraine relationship.
Trump, who has been in office for just a month, has alarmed European allies by seeking direct talks with Russia while leaving both Ukraine and European nations out of the initial discussions. His administration is pushing for a swift resolution to the war, with Vice President JD Vance stating on Thursday that ending the conflict requires engaging Russia.
Upon his arrival in Kyiv on Wednesday, Kellogg stated that his primary objective was to listen. His discussions with Zelenskiy were expected to touch on security guarantees, economic investments, and U.S. strategic interests in Ukraine’s vast reserves of minerals critical to the global energy transition. However, Ukraine has so far rejected the initial U.S. proposal due to the absence of solid security commitments.
The White House’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, called on Ukraine to reconsider its stance and accept the minerals deal, emphasizing its importance. “They need to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal,” Waltz told Fox News, underscoring the administration’s position.
European leaders, concerned about Trump’s shifting stance on Ukraine, have pledged to bolster their defense spending. Some have even floated the idea of a U.S.-backed European peacekeeping force to stabilize Ukraine, a move that has been met with opposition from the Kremlin. NATO and Zelenskiy, however, have expressed support for the initiative.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stressed the necessity of ensuring that Russia never again seizes Ukrainian territory. “It is vital that … Russia will never again try to take one more square kilometer of Ukrainian land,” Rutte said in Bratislava, reinforcing the alliance’s commitment to Ukraine’s security.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the international community remains focused on the next steps in resolving the war, with Ukraine’s future security and sovereignty hanging in the balance.
