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Munich conference: negotiations on Ukraine war in focus

Trump confirms meetings between the US, Russia and Ukraine. Kiev denies direct involvement, but Zelensky will only see Vice President Vance

The Munich Security Conference, which this year takes centre stage in the international geopolitical landscape, opens today. Among the most eagerly awaited meetings is the one between US Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as Washington and Moscow prepare for talks to assess possible solutions to the conflict in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump reiterated the need to directly involve Kiev in the peace talks, stressing that representatives of Russia and other international actors will also be present. Trump also revealed that a trilateral meeting between the US, Russia and Ukraine is scheduled for next week in Saudi Arabia, with the aim of advancing towards an understanding.

‘Russia will be present with our people. Ukraine has also been invited,’ Trump said at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House. The tycoon added that he believes both Zelensky and Putin want to reach an agreement. However, Kiev denied any participation in direct talks with Moscow in Munich. Dmytro Lytvyn, Zelensky’s advisor, reiterated that Ukraine ‘must first talk to the US’ and that any discussions with Russia must also include Europe.

Meanwhile, US Vice-President Vance hinted that Washington is ready to put pressure on Moscow to reach an agreement that guarantees Kiev’s independence in the long run. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Vance said that if Russia does not negotiate in good faith, the US could resort to tougher economic sanctions and even military action.

‘We have economic and military tools to leverage Putin,’ Vance said, stressing that Trump is determined to end the conflict and that ’an agreement will come out of this that will surprise a lot of people.’

The focus is now on Munich, where international diplomacies are working to build a possible path to peace in Ukraine.

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