Ukrainian opposition lawmaker Kira Rudik has said that recent talks between Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump have brought little relief to Ukrainians facing daily Russian attacks, despite optimistic rhetoric from both leaders. Speaking to TVP World, Rudik said discussions on a possible peace deal had not translated into real change on the ground. “People in Kyiv are without electricity, water, and heat for hours every day,” she said, adding that Russia continues to strike civilian areas while diplomacy drags on. Rudyk argued that meaningful peace talks must begin with a ceasefire—something Moscow has consistently rejected. She described the absence of a truce as a failure of diplomacy and questioned Washington’s willingness to pressure the Kremlin, despite Trump’s campaign pledge to achieve “peace through strength.” The Ukrainian lawmaker was skeptical that Kyiv would ever accept territorial concessions, stressing that the constitution bars such changes during wartime and would ultimately require a national referendum. “This is not about abstract land,” she said. “It is about people—their homes and their futures.” Rudik also called on Europe to play a more decisive role, warning that any loss of Ukrainian territory would move Russian forces closer to EU borders, including Poland. Security guarantees, she added, remain dangerously vague in current proposals. On Ukraine’s domestic politics, Rudik dismissed speculation about elections, saying a vote during wartime would risk destabilization and foreign interference. She argued President Zelenskyy’s priority remains preventing Ukraine from being blamed for a lack of peace while continuing to defend the country’s sovereignty.
