Russian and Ukrainian officials appeared at the White House on the same day, but U.S. President Donald Trump only met with Russian representatives.
Trump confirmed on November 5 local time that he met with Kiriil Demidiev, the special representative of Russian President Putin, at the White House, but did not meet with Ukrainian officials who were also present.
In response to reporters’ questions, Trump refused to disclose the specific details of the conversation, but hinted that a major agreement related to European security was in the making.
"An agreement will be reached, a major agreement, and it will not only involve Ukraine." Trump stated that this agreement may even cover the entire Europe.
The representatives from Russia and Ukraine gathered at the White House to participate in an event hosted by US First Lady Melania, commemorating the temporary ceasefire reached between the two sides in the Oleshky area of South Ukraine.
According to a White House statement, the ceasefire agreement was signed on October 23 and will be in effect from October 27 to November 1. This has created conditions for the delivery of food, medicine, and the evacuation of civilians in the area. Melania said that this operation helped nearly 800 people to be safely evacuated.
During the event, Dmitriev thanked Melania for her mediation, and said that Putin personally gave instructions for this operation, expressing his gratitude to her.
Ukraine also sent representatives to participate in the event, including Dvyd Arhachmiya, the chair of the parliamentary group of the People’s Public Servants Party to which Zelenskyy belongs, and Dmitro Lubynets, the commissioner for human rights of the Supreme Rada (parliament) of Ukraine.
Alahamiyya (second from the left) and Demidriev (right), attending the event in the White House Hall, Visual China
Trump did not provide an explanation for why he met with Russian representatives alone, but not with Ukrainian officials. The White House also did not immediately respond to media requests for comment.
Meanwhile, the U.S. envoy is meeting with Ukrainian and European officials at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Participating in the negotiations, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner said that positive progress was made, with the focus being on Ukraine's security and the future security structure of Europe.
According to American arrangements, the United States, Russia, and Ukraine plan to hold a tripartite meeting next week in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This will be the first such peace negotiations between the three parties since February this year.
Previously, Trump repeatedly demanded concessions from Ukraine. Recently, he also accused Zelenskyy of being unwilling to compromise and hindering the end of the conflict.
