Participants of the peace talks in Ukraine remain voiceless

• Ukrainians are frustrated by negotiations without the participation of Zelensky
• Refugees in Alliance express support for Ukraine
• Deep distrust towards potential compromises with Russia

On Friday, September 15, 2025, Ukrainians who are observing the negotiations between the U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alliance feel isolated. The negotiations are taking place without the participation of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, which causes a sense of abandonment among the population.

At the beginning of the week, Trump hinted at the possibility of "exchange of territories," which is perceived as a threat to lose Ukrainian lands. Despite the fact that 54% of Ukrainians are ready to support compromises for ending the war, most of them demand guarantees of security from international partners.

At the same time, Ukrainian refugees who settled in Alliance express frustration regarding meetings with leaders, stressing that they do not understand how negotiations can take place with someone they consider a war criminal. Refugees like Olena Demchenko and Kateryna Klymenchenko express hopes that a meeting could help conclude the war, even if they feel disappointment due to the absence of the Ukrainian president at the negotiations.

Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian deputy, notes that the closed nature of the meeting is unacceptable for Ukraine, as Trump could quickly change his mind under Putin's influence. Among Ukrainians, there is deep distrust towards potential agreements that could lead to new aggressive actions from Russia.

In Kyiv, priest Oleksandr Beskrovny calls for prayer for justice, emphasizing the importance of preserving people, not territories. Many Ukrainians believe that any agreement must protect their rights and security.

Tags: Ukraine/Politics