Ukraine’s ex-PM Warns Against ‘Sham’ Trump-Putin Diplomacy

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has cautioned against a "sham" diplomatic summit between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping, accusing Russia of aiming to partition Europe. Speaking at the Freedom Games conference in Łódź, Yatsenyuk portrayed such a meeting without Ukraine as a "sham talk" and likened it to the Munich Agreement of 1938 and the Yalta Conference of 1945.

He alleged that Putin intends to carve up Europe and criticized Moscow for using diplomacy as a means to buy time. Yatsenyuk dismissed Ukraine's future and Europe's security as negotiable issues only with those directly affected. The former head of government also rebuked Trump's decision to allow Russian diesel imports and waive new sanctions under a law named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, deeming it unprecedented and stating that it eases pressure on Moscow as its invasion of Ukraine proceeds.

Rejecting Trump's claim that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries primarily caused the rise in US fuel prices, Yatsenyuk pointed to the Iran war and questioned whether Russian diesel shipments could significantly lower prices. He warned that Russia could launch 70 to 120 ballistic missiles a month, requiring Ukraine to have at least 120 interceptors monthly to safeguard its cities, of which they currently possess virtually none.

Despite his criticism of Washington's Russia policy, Yatsenyuk urged Ukraine to retain bipartisan support in the United States, emphasizing the ongoing need for American intelligence, Patriot missiles, and other equipment purchased with European funds for Ukraine's defense. He concluded by advocating for the presence of Americans in Ukraine, not their withdrawal.