Kols skeptical for now about Trump's efforts to achieve a favorable outcome for Ukraine

RIGA - European Parliament Member Rihards Kols (National Alliance) is skeptical about US President Donald Trump's efforts to achieve a favorable outcome for Ukraine and Europe in the war against the aggressor state Russia, he said in an interview with Latvian Radio.

Kols pointed out that Trump has so far been more lenient towards Russian dictator Vladimir Putin than towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, including that Trump has not set Putin any parameters on what will happen if he does not take part in any format of peace talks. It is therefore incomprehensible why Putin should be prepared to give up the demands he has previously made, which are totally unacceptable to Ukraine and also to Europe, the MEP said.

The politician believes that what is threatening to happen - the protracted peace talks and the constant postponement, arguing over minor details - is a Russian dream that could lead to the legitimization of peace without ending the war.

Thus, under Trump, the talks have reached a point where Russia clearly has more advantages than Ukraine, Kols believes.

Kols also added that Putin was the biggest beneficiary of the Alaska summit, as Trump gave him the opportunity to emerge on the international scene after years of isolation. Thus, "the Kremlin's bloodthirsty dictator can feel that he is in relative control of the situation," the MEP said.

The AFP news agency reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he was willing to meet directly with his Russian counterpart to end the war.

Speaking to reporters after talks with US President Donald Trump and several European leaders at the White House, Zelensky said he was ready for what would be his first face-to-face with Vladimir Putin since Moscow's invasion nearly three and a half years ago.

"I confirmed -- and all European leaders supported me -- that we are ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin," Zelensky said following the summit.

Zelensky has come under increasing pressure to cede territory to end the grinding war, as Russia makes a series of advances.

Ahead of the White House meeting, Trump had pushed Ukraine to give up Crimea and abandon its goal of joining NATO -- both key demands made by Putin.

But Zelensky stressed he had been able to present a clearer picture of the battlelines to Trump, who he met in a one-on-one in the Oval Office.

"This was the best of our meetings," Zelensky said, according to a statement put out by his office. "I was able to show many things, even on the map, to all American colleagues regarding the situation on the battlefield."

Rather than concessions from Ukraine, the summit focused on arranging security guarantees in the event of a peace deal, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters afterwards.

Trump said the guarantees "would be provided by the various European Countries (in) coordination with the United States of America."

Zelensky added that "it is important that the United States of America gives a clear signal that it will be among the countries that will assist, coordinate and also be participants in security guarantees for Ukraine."

Zelensky said those plans would be "formalized in some way in the next week or ten days."