Ukraine reacted sharply to US President Donald Trump's statements regarding an alleged meeting between "high-ranking representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the US" during the Munich Security Conference, reports Tagesschau, quoted by Focus.
"Discussions with the Russians are not planned", said Ukrainian President's advisor Dmitry Lytvyn in Kiev. "For dialogue with Moscow, a common position with Kiev's allies is necessary," he stressed. "There is nothing on the table right now."
Trump announced that an agreement had been reached to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine after holding phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
This is the first serious diplomatic initiative by the US president in an attempt to fulfill his promise to end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office.
"We both agreed that we want to stop the millions of deaths that are happening in the war between Russia and Ukraine," Trump wrote on the social network Truth after his talks with Putin. He added that Washington and Moscow would work "together, very closely" to reach an agreement and that "the relevant teams will begin negotiations immediately".
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin and Trump had discussed the possibility of a meeting, with the Russian president extending an invitation to his American counterpart to visit Moscow.
"President Putin stressed the need to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and agreed with Trump that a long-term solution can be achieved through peaceful negotiations," Peskov said.
At the same time, Zelensky reported on the social network X that he had had a "substantial conversation" with Trump, during which they discussed "the possibilities of achieving peace" and the preparation of a document on cooperation in the fields of security and economy.
"No one wants peace more than Ukraine. Together with the United States, we are planning our next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure a lasting and credible peace," Zelensky stressed.
Trump commented that his phone call with the Ukrainian president went "very well" and suggested that "Zelensky, like President Putin, wants to make PEACE."
On social media, Trump added: "It is time to stop this ridiculous war, in which there is enormous and completely unnecessary DEATH and DESTRUCTION. God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!"