Last week, Donald Trump announced plans to negotiate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
Now officials from Trump’s administration and Putin’s delegation are meeting in Riyadh for talks on bringing peace to Ukraine, without the involvement of Kyiv or European nations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to visit Saudi Arabia tomorrow but says his trip is unrelated to the US-Russia discussions.
Some see Trump’s efforts as a quick way to end the conflict, but many Independent readers were unconvinced when we asked for their views.
Readers shared concerns that Trump’s plan is too simplistic, with many warning that leaving Kyiv out of the talks and pushing Nato aside could weaken Ukraine and encourage Putin to take more land. They argued that Trump’s approach focuses on quick deals instead of long-term peace and could hurt international support for Ukraine.
Some also criticised Trump for putting his own goals above global security. They stressed that any peace deal should protect Ukraine’s independence and Europe’s safety.
Overall, readers expressed frustration and urged for more transparency and a stronger stand for democratic values.
Here’s what you had to say:
Trump’s interventions exacerbate the problem
Trump’s interventions are only exacerbating the problem. He is an opportunist and he offers nothing but short-term, simplistic answers to complex problems. Forget “America First” — everything he does is “Trump First” — and what he sees here is an opportunity with Putin to dominate the globe. He has no loyalty to allies and he will do whatever, with whomever, to further his and his coterie’s ambitions.
I think the UK government needs to distance itself from the Trump administration and stand shoulder to shoulder with other sensible nations to oppose him on this. If not, history may not forgive us. Trump is only emboldening Putin and we should be under no illusion that if Ukraine is forced to concede territory to Russia, nowhere in Europe is safe.
Whatsthestorydontvotetory
What else can he do?
What else can he do? At least he is ending the war, which Biden was totally incapable of doing. How will Ukraine get back the lost territory? Are the brave British soldiers going to march onto the frontlines of the battlefields in Ukraine and take the territory away from the Russians? Please do so and show us how it should be done — I encourage you to go. If not, you have nothing to say about Trump. Why should America defend Ukraine? It seems that Europe can’t even defend its own backyard. You can just talk a lot. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
AbeG
Weakening democracy
As far as demolishing democracy goes, Putin and Trump are on the same page. Together, they might stop the war, but the cost of that peace will effectively be that Putin has won. And Trump, with his talk of exploiting Ukrainian minerals as the price for help, is engaging in predatory imperialism. Nobody is saying Trump is a force for good except the deluded, the usual apologists, and people in league with his disgraceful agenda.
Sacredmonger2
This war can be stopped in a heartbeat
So many previously thought it was fiction — that one man ruling the world. Ukraine is being sold off, appeased, and painted out of the maps.
This war can be stopped in a heartbeat if Ukraine just gives up — and that is what Trump is proposing. Give up all the occupied land and a bit more, for peace. Give up all hope of becoming part of the West or NATO and succumb to being a Russian satellite. I don’t think this is what Ukraine wants; that’s not what they are fighting for.
If this plan is used, next step: Gaza on Sea, Greenland taken over as a base and mine, Canada incorporated as an American state, and the UK as a vassal.
Full mining rights in Ukraine and control of cereal production is Trump’s reward there.
Martyn
Negotiation to stop the carnage
The US has been a central piece of this conflict since the start in 2014, and before. It is right for the US, Ukraine, and Russia to negotiate peace. If the UK was involved in the conflict back in 2014, then maybe they should also be at the table. Up to now, Trump is the only person talking about negotiation to stop the carnage.
Mp
Annexing ambitions
When Trump started talking about annexing Greenland (and later Gaza), it became obvious (at least to me) that he and Putin have the same kinds of ambitions. In a sense, he has a vested interest in allowing Putin to have his annexed territory insofar as helping to convince the world that annexations can be OK. Therefore, I can’t see that his intervention can be anything other than biased and detrimental to the peace process.
Hungubwe
Bypassing diplomatic response
Trump has completely bypassed an initial allied diplomatic response. There is no detail about his 90-minute call with Putin. He has kicked away any initial leverage that Ukraine had, and his administration has announced that they won’t get involved in Ukraine and that the protection of Europe is now of secondary value. This is not only a unilaterally and ego-driven strategic and diplomatic disaster, but it gives Putin a heads up and will embolden him for planning further probing and land grabs in the region — Moldova and the Baltic states. The special relationship with the US has now expired. Starmer needs to realise this and firmly align the UK with our true allies in the EU, economically and militarily.
Herb61
Undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty
This absolutely undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty and, as such, it should be a non-starter as it sets an incredibly dangerous precedent — not only to Putin but to all the world’s ambitious autocratic rulers who believe that might makes right and that the rule of law is for softies. Trump has no moral compass and the US is now a rogue state that is tearing up what was once a rule-based order and imposing its will — irrespective of the damage that it causes to sovereign states in its path. That order was based (largely) on respect for international laws, common decency, and moral integrity, and on an understanding amongst allies of how to conduct geopolitical business. That has now been shredded.
This will not bring peace; it will sow discord and chaos and will destroy Ukraine in the process.
That shining beacon on the Hill has now slipped into the mire and murk of authoritarianism.
arco iris
Pre‑2014 borders and Kremlin mole
Trump is saying Ukraine isn’t interested in pre‑2014 borders, is prepared to hand over more territory, and will never join NATO or the EU. All points Putin had on his list! Trump, who prides himself on being the king of deal-making, is off to a rather pathetic start by offering everything the other party wants.
Somehow, you could think that Trump is, so far, the highest-placed Kremlin mole ever.
Rasputin007
Trump demands everything he likes
Everything Trump likes or wants, he demands as his right. He is the biggest danger to the world at this time, just interested in getting a deal.
Is anything likely to stand in his way? I can’t see it at the moment.
Martyn
Russia taking over Europe?
I don’t know. Mussolini put the pope on the map and the world stuck to that. Sometimes not caring at all contains an advantage for the opportunistic blank — the ability to make a deal where others couldn’t.
But as for Russia taking over Europe? I doubt that. They really are that incapable, and the majority of the pain we experience in Britain came from importing their gas, which was our own mistake — trying to run before we can walk. Militarily, as an economy, and as an intellect, the Russians can’t do much in the real world — not for pretentious reasons like net zero; they just can’t.
TheRedSquirrel
Let Trump impose peace
Russia cannot really win this war against Ukraine, so what chance would it have in invading a NATO country? None!
So all this scaremongering is exactly that. Let Trump impose peace so we can all go on our way again without posturing and increasing expenditure on our feeble defences — and feeding the military industrial complex is not necessary.
Must have a second referendum
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