Touching on Ukrainian anxieties that a direct meeting between Mr. Trump and Putin could marginalize Kyiv and European interests, Zelenskyy said: "Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work."

The threats, pressure and ultimatums have come and gone, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has maintained Moscow’s uncompromising demands in the war in Ukraine, raising fears he could use a planned summit with U.

Ahead of a meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said she is "hopeful" about Mr. Trump's latest push for a ceasefire deal — and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is "ready to be anywhere" if the U.