‘We won't end the struggle until this evil is punished’

Disgusted by Trump’s latest intervention, Ukrainians tell Sam Kiley the world is seeing a repeat of Munich 1938

- Sam Kiley

Senior officers, veterans, politicians and ordinary soldiers have lashed out at Donald Trump's plans to meet Vladimir Putin in peace talks that exclude Ukraine.

Ukrainian rap star Oleksandr Yarmak, who is also head of research and development in the country's new unmanned aerial vehicle force, told The Independent: "Regardless of the plans of Trump and the murderous Putin, we will defend our country. If Russia is not punished for its bloody deeds, this world has no future.”

He spoke after the US president’s announcement that he hoped to open talks with the Russian leader, possibly in Saudi Arabia, next week. Trump’s defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, has already laid out the parameters for the US which directly reflects the Kremlin’s longstanding position. Notably, he said Ukraine cannot join Nato and that Kyiv must give up on demands that Russia withdraw from all of the territory it has captured in the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine since 2014.