Ukrainians believe that Russia is not interested in ending the war and will not make any concessions despite the talks.
Kyiv residents have voiced concern after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke positively about his phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and suggested a swift resolution to the war—potentially by conceding Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory to Moscow.
“For Ukrainians, this is a negative sign. And I think that no one will just let it go,” said Oleksandr Sokhatskyi, a financial consultant in Kyiv, speaking to CNN on Thursday about the possibility of Ukraine losing land to Russia. “Or maybe (the United States and Russia) are just testing whether we will accept it in silence or respond with opposition.”
While some Ukrainians expressed hope for a fair peace deal, few believed it was likely. Many feared that Putin was influencing Trump, steering him toward a settlement favorable to Moscow.
“Trump said the war would be over in 24 hours and it’s been a while. I don’t see any prospect (of ending the war) anytime soon,” said 70-year-old Liudmyla Bilozerova.
“I would like to believe that everything will work out. Ukraine wants peace. This is the most important thing,” added Viktor, a pensioner. “It’s bad that they bypass Ukraine, negotiate with Putin, and the EU isn’t invited to the talks.”
“The surrender of territory is the most sensitive issue,” Viktor said, stressing that Ukrainians want to return to the borders the country enjoyed after its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 until 2014, when Russia seized Crimea. “We cannot understand what they (Putin and Trump) are talking about behind our backs.”
Trump’s phone call with Putin sparked concerns across Europe that he might push for a deal unfavorable to Kyiv. When asked on Wednesday whether he considers Ukraine an equal partner in the peace process, Trump hesitated, responding, “Um, that’s an interesting question.”
Earlier, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told NATO defense ministers that Ukraine’s NATO membership was unrealistic, as was the prospect of reclaiming all the territory Russia has annexed since its initial invasion in 2014.
“We know that Russia is highly deceptive—they can pretend to cooperate, but when it comes to real concessions and peace agreements, they never follow through,” said Yuliya Kazdobina of the Kyiv-based foreign policy think tank Ukrainian Prism. “No matter how much we want peace, I don’t think it’s possible because Russia hasn’t changed its stance and won’t.”
Sokhatskyi echoed these concerns, emphasizing the cost of war: “Given how many lives have already been lost, ending the war on someone else’s terms would dishonor those sacrifices. Why did our soldiers die defending these territories if we are to give them up now? We must not surrender our land—it would mean forgetting those who fought and fell for it.”
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