Ukrainian MP: Putin Not Serious About Peace — Warns Trump Not to ‘Trade’ With an Aggressor

Lisa Yasko, a member of Ukraine's parliament aligned with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not genuinely pursuing a peace settlement and cautioned against treating negotiations with Russia as a transactional business deal.

Yasko: Smiling Face, Different Agenda

After high-level talks in Moscow that included U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Yasko said the meeting produced no breakthrough because Putin appeared more interested in projecting influence than securing a just peace.

"[Putin] was smiling so much at this meeting with Witkoff, but absolutely this is not about the peace itself," Yasko said. "He's focused on demonstrating that he remains geopolitically active — how well he is treated, how influential he appears, and that he is not a war criminal."

On Transactional Deals and Red Lines

Yasko acknowledged that President Trump can be "transactional," which sometimes helps close deals. But she warned that economic incentives alone cannot resolve a conflict that involved territorial conquest. "You cannot make peace with only economic deals. You cannot go that far as pleasing an aggressor. I believe there are certain lines," she said.

Background and Diplomatic Push

The Moscow talks were part of a White House effort to negotiate around a proposed plan initially described as a 28-point framework. Kyiv and several European partners objected to provisions that appeared to require Ukraine to cede territory held by Russian forces; the draft was later revised during consultations with Ukrainian and European officials.

After the five-hour session, Yuri Ushakov, a senior adviser to Putin, described the meeting as "rather useful, constructive, rather substantive," but conceded that "we are no closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine, and there is much work to be done."

Wider Concerns and the Call to Visit

Yasko said Putin's broader aim is to reshape the global order and reassert Russia as a central powerbroker, often in partnership with China. She criticized any proposal that would reward territorial gains and called the initial U.S. proposal "insulting" to Ukraine.

European leaders have warned that conceding to Russia's territorial demands could set a dangerous precedent, encouraging further aggression. NATO members have reported airspace breaches by drones and fighter jets, and there have been allegations of sabotage against critical infrastructure in Europe. Many European governments also say they were sidelined as direct talks unfolded.

A Personal Appeal

Yasko urged President Trump to visit Ukraine to see the human cost of the conflict firsthand — a trip President Zelenskyy has repeatedly requested. "He should come here first," she said. "He should see what happened in Ukraine. He should see the faces, the eyes of people."