In an interview broadcast on Monday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris made it clear that if she were elected president, she would not engage in peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless Ukraine was also represented in the negotiations. Kamala Harris, a Democratic White House hopeful, emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s involvement in any discussions concerning its future, firmly rejecting the idea of bilateral talks with Vladimir Putin.
“Not bilaterally without Ukraine, no. Ukraine must have a say in the future of Ukraine,” Kamala Harris stated during her appearance on CBS’s 60 Minutes. When asked if she would meet with Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war without Ukraine’s presence, she was unequivocal in her response. Kamala Harris’s stance aligns with the current Biden administration, which has similarly ruled out direct talks with Vladimir Putin unless Ukraine is a part of the process.
Kamala Harris also took the opportunity to criticize her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, and his approach to the Ukraine crisis. She characterized Trump’s policies as a “surrender” to Russia’s invasion, expressing concern that his actions could embolden Moscow. Trump has previously expressed skepticism about the vast military and financial aid the U.S. has provided to Ukraine and has claimed that he could quickly broker a peace deal with Vladimir Putin.
Kamala Harris sharply dismissed Trump’s claims, arguing that his proposals would undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty. “Donald Trump, if he were president, Vladimir Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now,” Kamala Harris remarked. “He talks about, ‘Oh, he can end it on day one.’ You know what that is? It’s about surrender.”
The vice president’s comments reflect concerns in Kyiv that any peace deal led by Trump would involve conceding territory in eastern Ukraine that Russia has occupied since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Kamala Harris’s remarks highlight the clear division between the two parties on the issue of Ukraine, with Democrats prioritizing continued support for Ukraine’s defense and Republicans like Trump advocating for a swift end to the conflict, potentially at the cost of Ukrainian territory.
In the same interview, Kamala Harris also briefly addressed Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO. She maintained a cautious stance, stating that she would deal with Ukraine’s bid to join the military alliance “if and when it arrives at that point.”
As the war in Ukraine continues, Kamala Harris’s statements underscore her commitment to ensuring that Ukraine has a central role in shaping its future, as well as her firm opposition to any concessions that could favor Russia’s territorial ambitions.
