Zelenskyy Responds to Trump's 'Peace Council' Proposal, Expresses Doubts Over Russian Inclusion.

Invitation to a 'Peace Council'

According to TSN.ua: U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Ukraine to join a proposed 'Peace Council,' which would also include the Russian Federation and Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the invitation, stating that he finds it difficult to envision cooperating with Russia within such a framework.

Trump formally extended the invitation to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The U.S. initiative could potentially be expanded to address other global conflicts. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has also received an invitation, and Trump has confirmed that Vladimir Putin would participate.

Doubts Over Cooperation

Zelenskyy expressed significant skepticism about the prospect of working alongside Russia, remarking:

'For now, it is very difficult for me to imagine how we and Russia could be together in this or any other Council.' – Volodymyr Zelenskyy

French President Emmanuel Macron has no intention of accepting Trump's invitation. Consequently, the formation of the 'Peace Council' remains uncertain, given the positions of these key players. This proposal comes amidst ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, stemming from the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The invitation to Ukraine reflects a U.S. attempt to establish new mechanisms for resolving international disputes. However, the profound challenges of Ukrainian-Russian cooperation, given the active conflict between the two nations, cast serious doubt on the initiative's potential effectiveness. The reluctance of other major powers, like France, further highlights the sensitive and contentious nature of this proposal on the world stage.