Ukraine's Zelenskyy: No Putin Meeting Until US Plan is Clear

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that he won't sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin until a solid plan is agreed upon with the United States. Zelenskyy sees U. S. President Trump as a key player in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Trump has shaken things up by changing the U. S. 's long-standing support for Ukraine after a recent call with Putin. This shift has left many in Europe wondering about the future of their security. Zelenskyy is set to meet with U. S. Vice President JD Vance, who has been in Europe. Vance has been straight-talking with European officials about free speech and immigration. He warned that if they don't act quickly, they might lose public support. Vance's speech came at a time when Europe is worried about Trump's foreign policy. He also talked about the need for NATO members to spend more on defense. Currently, only 23 out of 32 NATO countries meet the 2% GDP spending target. Hours before Vance and Zelenskyy were set to meet, a Russian drone struck the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Zelenskyy believes this was a message from Putin. The Kremlin, however, denied these claims. The U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was delayed and had to take a different flight to Munich. Trump has been vague about his plans for Ukraine, but it seems like he wants Ukraine to give up some territory. This has left Europeans confused about their security and the future of NATO. Trump and U. S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have also cast doubt on Ukraine's hopes of joining NATO or getting back its captured territory. Vance has warned that if Putin doesn't agree to a peace deal, the U. S. might hit Moscow with sanctions or even military action. This is a surprising move from a Trump administration that wants to end the war quickly. Zelenskyy, however, won't accept any agreements made without Ukraine's involvement. The situation has also rocked Europe, much like Trump's comments about France and Germany during his first term. French Deputy Foreign Minister Benjamin Haddad thinks Europe is at a turning point and needs to rely less on the U. S. for its security. He warns that a Russian victory in Ukraine could have global repercussions.