Kyiv (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin after his inconclusive Alaska meeting with Donald Trump.
As reported by The Guardian, Vasyl Myroshnychenko accused Vladimir Putin of seeking to “revive the Soviet Union” and undermine democracy after he met with US President Donald Trump.
Following a three-hour meeting in Alaska, Mr Putin and Mr Trump claimed “great progress” was made on ending the war in Ukraine, though no peace deal was reached.
Vasyl Myroshnychenko’s views on Putin’s war goals
Speaking to ABC, Vasyl Myroshnychenko stressed that Vladimir Putin sees the very idea of an independent and democratic Ukraine as the root cause of the conflict.
He said,
“When Putin talks about the ‘root cause of war’, it’s an independent Ukraine on the map of Europe. That’s the only cause of war for Russia.”
Mr Myroshnychenko stated,
“He planned to take over Kyiv in several days, the entire Ukraine in several weeks … he is pursuing his ambition of destroying democracy next door.”
According to him, Mr Putin has not indicated abandoning his territorial ambitions, adding,
“Putin is just out there on his mission to revive the Soviet Union, to revive the Russian empire, and it can’t be revived without Ukraine. Just overnight, as we speak, Russians have attacked many Ukrainian cities, sending many drones. So we don’t really see any indication of him ending his war.”
Mr Myroshnychenko welcomed the meeting as a positive step but warned that a bilateral US-Russia dialogue alone cannot deliver lasting peace.
He added,
“We welcome America’s involvement in this to make sure this war can end, but we understand it can’t end without Ukraine involved, without Europe involved … we can’t discuss the security of Europe without Europe at the table.”
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s stance on the Anchorage talks
During an Alaska meeting on August 15, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin abandoned their planned one-on-one session. Instead, they held a three-on-three meeting that included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff on the American side.
At Putin’s side were foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and senior aide Yuri Ushakov, a former ambassador to Washington.
The two leaders addressed reporters after the meeting but declined to answer questions. Mr Putin opened, urging both nations to “turn the page” and “return to cooperation.”
The Russian president said he and Mr Trump had reached “an understanding,” though not a final agreement. He urged European leaders not to “throw a wrench in the works” or resort to “backroom dealings” that could jeopardise progress.
He said,
“I have every reason to believe that moving down this path we can come – and the sooner the better – to the end of the conflict in Ukraine.”
Mr Putin argued that lasting peace requires addressing the war’s “root causes.” His demands include Ukraine abandoning NATO membership and pursuing “denazification,” which implies removing Volodymyr Zelenskyy from office.
President Trump described the meeting with the Russian counterpart as “extremely productive.”
He stated,
“There’s no deal until there’s a deal. I will call up NATO… I’ll, of course, call up [Ukraine’s] president Zelenskyy and tell him about today’s meeting. It’s ultimately up to them.”
What did Kateryna Argyrou say about Putin’s Alaska visit?
Kateryna Argyrou, head of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, said Mr Putin’s visit contained “nothing to offer but more war.”
He stated,
“No ceasefire, no retreat from his maximalist demands … even as discussions were taking place, Russian missiles and drones were raining down on Ukrainian cities and towns.”
Mr Argyrou said,
“His recycled propaganda about ‘root causes’ is simply code for denying Ukraine’s right to exist as a sovereign, independent nation – a denial made real through the devastation Ukrainians face every day. There can be no lasting peace until Russia faces the truth: Ukraine is a sovereign nation.”
Mr Argyrou urged Australia to stand firm with allies in supporting Ukraine’s defence and enforcing sanctions against Russian officials.
European leaders’ views on peace talks in Ukraine
A joint statement from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission stated,
“We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.”
They added,
“Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force. The current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations.”
What did Zelensky say after meeting with Sir Keir Starmer?
Ahead of Trump’s meeting in Alaska, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky met in Downing Street.
Mr Zelensky said,
“We continue to coordinate our positions. We discussed expectations for the meeting in Alaska and possible prospects. We also discussed in considerable detail the security guarantees that can make peace truly durable if the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killings and engage in genuine, substantive diplomacy.”