Kyiv residents react to Zelenskyy-Trump talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine

Residents of Kyiv held their breath as they closely watched meetings between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump and European leaders.  

During the summit, Trump expressed hope that he and Zelenskyy would soon hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin with the objective of ending Russia’s all-out war in Ukraine, now well into its fourth year.

Following the conclusion of the meetings, Trump phoned Putin to initiate the three-way talks.  

Volodymr Novytskyy, who lives in the Ukrainian capital, said a truce can be achieved but that it will not be the end of the war. “Even if there is a truce, this enemy will not stop within the border he has now.” 

“I would not like to be in Zelenskyy’s place," Kyiv resident Svetlana Gerasimenko said.

“He will not give in to Putin’s desires, but it is difficult to think how the situation will unfold further.” 

Political analyst Oleh Saakian said the meeting went "satisfactorily".

"Trump did not come out and say he was strengthening sanctions against Russia. But we live in a certain reality. The task of this meeting was to prevent Trump from pressuring Ukraine with Russian demands. We managed to achieve that 100%," Saakian said.

"For Ukraine, the meeting with Putin is important to show Trump whether Russia is really ready to end the war. It is important to demonstrate that Ukraine has done everything possible on its side," he explained.

"I don’t think anyone in Ukraine has the illusion that a meeting with Putin could suddenly bring peace."

Zelenskyy and European leaders said that Putin has demanded that Ukraine give up the Donbas in eastern Ukraine, which has seen some of the most intense fighting for over a decade, ever since Russia's initial invasion in 2014.

Euronews previously reported that Russia would be unable to seize Donetsk -- which makes up the Donbas together with another eastern region, Luhansk -- unless Ukraine withdraws from it, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War think tank.