Ukraine’s future as a sovereign nation was hanging in the balance last night after the superpower summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
Critics warned that other world leaders were powerless to prevent Volodymyr Zelensky from being caught ‘with his head in a vice’ by the American and Russian leaders when he visits Mr Trump at the White House.
Diplomatic sources said that Friday’s summit in Alaska had paved the way for a deal in which Ukraine would be expected to surrender large swathes of the Donbas region in the east of the country, including areas currently controlled by Kyiv.
In return, president Zelensky would receive ‘Nato-style’ protection from Western countries for what remained of his territory.
He is preparing to fly to Washington for a showdown with Mr Trump, at which he is expected to be told to retreat from the battlegrounds.
Mr Zelensky is understood to have said that he will refuse to surrender Donetsk, which has been at the centre of conflict with Moscow since 2014, but is more broadly ‘open to discussing the issue of territory’.
Last night, Boris Johnson called for Sir Keir Starmer to lead international efforts to protect Ukraine from being carved up as a result of what he described as a ‘vomit-inducing’ meeting in Alaska.
Mr Trump has told Mr Zelensky and EU leaders that as part of the negotiations they would have to drop their demands for a ceasefire: it means Putin can continue his attacks on the country until a deal is signed.
Critics warned that other world leaders were powerless to prevent Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) from being caught ‘with his head in a vice’ by the American and Russian leaders when he visits Mr Trump at the White House
Diplomatic sources said that Friday’s summit in Alaska had paved the way for a deal in which Ukraine would be expected to surrender large swathes of the Donbas region in the east of the country. Pictured: President Trump and Putin in Alaska on Friday
Last night, Boris Johnson called for Sir Keir Starmer to lead international efforts to protect Ukraine from being carved up as a result of what he described as a ‘vomit-inducing’ meeting in Alaska
Sir Keir will hold a so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ telephone meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz this afternoon to discuss the role of European peacekeepers in a post-conflict Ukraine.
Yesterday, President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: ‘The best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.
‘President Zelensky will be coming to [Washington] DC, the Oval Office, on Monday afternoon. If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with president Putin.’
Last night, former British defence minister Tobias Ellwood told The Mail on Sunday that he feared Mr Zelensky was walking into a trap in the White House.
He said: ‘He will be asked to put his head in a vice, with Vladimir Putin pushing from one side and Donald Trump from the other.
‘The Ukrainian president will be presented with a “take it or leave it” deal: surrender territory to Russia or face the blame for wrecking peace.
‘And if Mr Zelensky refuses, Trump will walk away, declaring that America is done with the talks.
‘It’s the classic gangster deal – one you can’t refuse. Except he must.’
Sir Keir will hold a so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ telephone meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz this afternoon to discuss the role of European peacekeepers in a post-conflict Ukraine
Yesterday, President Trump (pictured with Zelensky) wrote on his Truth Social platform: ‘The best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement’
Last night, former British defence minister Tobias Ellwood (pictured) told The Mail on Sunday that he feared Mr Zelensky was walking into a trap in the White House. He said: ‘He will be asked to put his head in a vice, with Vladimir Putin pushing from one side and Donald Trump from the other’
Mr Johnson, writing in today’s MoS, describes the summit as ‘the most vomit-inducing episode in all the tawdry history of international diplomacy’.
He says: ‘Imagine how it felt to be one of those embattled heroes in a dug-out near Pokrovsk, fighting for your country’s freedom, and to hear the President of the United States – the ex officio team captain of the Free World – refer to Vladimir Putin as “the boss”. Retch.
‘Think of the tens of thousands of Ukrainian widows and orphans.
‘Think of the maimed and mutilated; think of the Ukrainian civilians living in daily and nightly terror of Putin’s bombs and missiles still raining down, even though the so-called negotiations were taking place in Alaska.’
But he adds: ‘Like so many of the most objectionable pieces of historic diplomacy, that meeting was also, of course, justifiable and even essential.
‘Puke-making though it was, Trump was right to try. He was right to meet Putin, because if millions of Ukrainians were watching with horror at the red-carpet rehabilitation of the Russian tyrant, they were also watching with hope… One day this war will end with a peace that protects Ukrainian freedom; but as Trump said in Alaska, the Europeans – led by Britain – will have to step up.’
Mr Johnson, writing in today’s MoS, describes the summit as ‘the most vomit-inducing episode in all the tawdry history of international diplomacy’. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer and Zelensky on August 14
Mr Johnson said: ‘Puke-making though it was, Trump was right to try. He was right to meet Putin, because if millions of Ukrainians were watching with horror at the red-carpet rehabilitation of the Russian tyrant, they were also watching with hope’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a long-time ally of Mr Trump, said of the US President: ‘At least he is trying to find peace’
The proposed deal was greeted with dismay in Ukraine. Volodymyr Dubovyk, a professor of international relations in Odesa, described it as ‘a nothing-burger with a sour aftertaste’.
He said: ‘As a Ukrainian, it was pretty disgusting to see what was going on, all this red carpet, all this clapping and smiles and being chummy.’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a long-time ally of Mr Trump, said of the US President: ‘At least he is trying to find peace.’
But former Tory defence secretary Ben Wallace hit out at the 1980’s-style ‘pantomime’ of the summit between the two leaders.
He said: ‘Putin got what he wanted and I think President Trump got a trip to Alaska.’
President Trump rolled out the red carpet for Putin and gave himself a get-out clause… it’s time to stand by Zelensky
By Former Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood
Rather than arrest President Putin for war crimes, President Trump rolled out the red carpet and brought the isolated dictator in from the cold.
Most commentary claims the rashly organised summit was a total win for Putin – who basked in the international limelight but left agreeing to nothing.
Not true.
Trump got what he wanted: an off-ramp, a get-out clause.
By hosting these summits, knocking heads together, and proposing a “final” peace deal, he has created a stage where, if talks collapse, he can blame Zelensky.
I fear that at tomorrow’s meeting at the White House, Zelensky will be walking into a trap.
He will be asked to put his head in a vice – Vladimir Putin pushing from one side, Donald Trump from the other.
The Ukrainian president will be presented with a “take it or leave it” deal: surrender territory to Russia or face the blame for wrecking peace.
Rather than arrest President Putin for war crimes, President Trump rolled out the red carpet and brought the isolated dictator in from the cold
Most commentary claims the rashly organised summit was a total win for Putin – who basked in the international limelight but left agreeing to nothing. Not true. Trump got what he wanted: an off-ramp, a get-out clause
By hosting these summits, knocking heads together, and proposing a “final” peace deal, he has created a stage where, if talks collapse, he can blame Zelensky
And if Zelensky refuses, Trump will walk away, declaring America is done with the talks. It’s the classic gangster deal – one you can’t refuse.
Except he must – for the sake of his country and for the sake of international justice.
The stakes could not be higher for Europe.
Global security is never in a good place when America retreats into isolationism and drifts out of step with Europe.
Yet here we have an invaded sovereign state potentially abandoned, while Trump sees no harm in doing business – minerals included – with the enemy.
This is not the America we know and love.
Trump’s geo-strategic blind spot is believing this is just about Ukraine.
Europe knows better.
I fear that at the meeting at the White House, Zelensky will be walking into a trap. He will be asked to put his head in a vice – Vladimir Putin pushing from one side, Donald Trump from the other
Trump’s geo-strategic blind spot is believing this is just about Ukraine. Europe knows better. It’s time to stand by Zelensky. He is going to need our help. If we don’t, it will be us who need help next
The Russian threat – increasingly backed by China – is far larger.
A deal that cements Russia’s gains will only buy Putin time to re-arm, regroup, and strike again.
History is clear on what happens when bullies are appeased: more war.
And it won’t stay confined to Europe.
It’s time to stand by Zelensky.
He is going to need our help.
If we don’t, it will be us who need help next.
• Former Tory MP Tobias Ellwood was Defence Minister from 2017 to 2019.
