Russian President Vladimir Putin has brushed off concerns from Europe and Ukraine over their exclusion from U.S.-Russia negotiations, calling their reaction “hysterical” and irrelevant to the core discussions.
In his first interview following the high-level talks, Putin asserted that the negotiations were focused on U.S.-Russia relations, not Kyiv’s demands or Brussels’ objections.
He accused the West of sabotaging past peace efforts, insisting that Moscow never walked away from talks—rather, it was Ukraine and its allies who cut off dialogue.
Putin also took a swipe at European leaders, claiming they were interfering in U.S. politics while hypocritically accusing Russia of election meddling.
The remarks underscore growing tensions as the West fears a potential shift in Washington’s stance under President Trump, which could leave Ukraine sidelined in future negotiations.
