Ex-Ukrainian FM Kuleba says Trump’s peace efforts have failed
Dmytro Kuleba tells France 24 that President Trump’s approach is ineffective, leaving all parties dissatisfied and Ukraine unwilling to cede territory.
Former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has declared that US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine have failed, arguing that the current diplomatic approach is ineffective. Speaking to France 24 from Kyiv, Kuleba stated that there is no window for a diplomatic solution at this stage and warned that the president does not seem ready to change his strategy regarding Russia.
Kuleba outlined a scenario of mutual dissatisfaction, predicting that the current dynamic will leave Russia unhappy with the insufficient pressure being applied to Kyiv, while Ukraine and Europe remain dissatisfied with the lack of pressure on Moscow. He described this state as a limbo, asserting that as long as the approach remains unchanged, no progress will be made. Despite this, Kuleba conceded that no party would dare to exclude the United States from the peace process.
On the military front, Kuleba noted that it is too early to declare victory, although he expressed firm belief that Ukraine will ultimately win. He highlighted that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have disrupted the country’s fuel supply, breaking a key part of President Vladimir Putin’s social contract with its citizens. Kuleba predicted that in the coming weeks, news from air battles would become more prominent than developments on the ground.
Regarding territorial integrity, Kuleba was categorical that Ukraine will not cede occupied territories to Russia. He affirmed that no political leader in Ukraine would sign a document agreeing to hand over land to Moscow, citing zero trust in Russia following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s rejection of demands for withdrawal from the Donetsk region.
Kuleba concluded that the war will only end when Putin recognises Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent, sovereign, and European nation. He described this prospect as currently out of sight, reinforcing his assessment that the current diplomatic efforts are not working and that the conflict remains unresolved.
