"It's a pity": Zelensky says Trump gave Putin what he wanted
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President Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin "what he wanted" with last month's summit in Alaska, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not represented at the talks, in a recent interview.
The big picture: Trump received heavy criticism for abandoning his ceasefire demands from the Russian president during the summit, which began with a red-carpet rollout and abruptly ended with inconclusive results.
- Zelensky has stressed that there must be more pressure on Putin, who continues to bombard war-torn Ukraine.
- Trump, who has sporadically threatened to punish Putin, wants to see the two leaders meet face-to-face, though he has been unable to convene such a meeting.
Driving the news: "It's a pity that Ukraine was not there, because I think that President Trump ... gave Putin what he wanted," Zelensky told ABC's Martha Raddatz in an interview that aired Sunday on "This Week."
- "He wanted very much to meet with President Trump, with the President of the United States," he said. "And I think that ... Putin got it. And, it's a pity."
Zelensky continued, "Putin doesn't want to meet with me, but he wants very much to meet with the President of the United States, to show everybody video and images that he is there."
- The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
State of play: Putin said last week that he would be willing to meet with Zelensky in Moscow, but Ukrainian officials say they'd fear for the president's life if he made such a trip, Axios' Barak Ravid and Dave Lawler report.
- Zelensky responded to Putin's invitation in his interview with Raddatz, saying, "He can come to Kyiv."
- He added, "I can't go to Moscow when my country is under missiles, under attacks each day. I can't go to this capital of this terrorist."
- Zelensky emphasized that Putin can't be trusted, saying "he's playing games with the United States." But Zelensky said he is still ready for a meeting — but not one in Russia.
Catch up quick: During the summit, Putin made maximalist claims to Ukrainian territory, Axios previously reported, though a source told Axios he expressed willingness to discuss the principle of security guarantees but mentioned China as a potential guarantor.
- Earlier this month, Zelensky met with European leaders and Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and discussed such guarantees.
What we're watching: To end the war, Zelensky said, the U.S. and European allies must put additional pressure on Putin.
- In a recent virtual meeting, Trump put the onus on European leaders to pressure Putin and accused them of "funding the war" through purchases of Russian oil. The U.S. has placed tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, but hasn't followed through on threats to tariff China.
- "You need ... to take off [Putin's] weapon," Zelensky told Raddatz. "Energy is his weapon."
Go deeper: Scoop: White House believes Europe secretly undoing Ukraine war's end
