Going to Moscow for Putin Meeting Would Be ‘Fatal Mistake’ for Zelensky, Former US Envoy Says

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer welcomed the G7’s stated intention to boost air defense and long-range weapons for Ukraine

However, he warned in an interview with Kyiv Post that the real test will be whether the declaration is followed by specific steps.

G7 leaders backed a joint statement pledging stronger military support for Ukraine and tighter pressure on Russia’s war economy, including sanctions targeting Moscow’s fossil fuel revenues.

Signs of a US shift

European leaders also pointed to what they described as a shift by US President Donald Trump toward a tougher line on Moscow.

A diplomatic source told AFP that G7 leaders agreed to grant licenses for Ukraine-based companies to produce long-range missiles and air defense systems.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed what he called a “very deep change in the US approach” toward Ukraine, saying Trump had acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not seriously interested in peace.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also said there was “a lot of convergence” on Ukraine and “no friction or divergence.”

The renewed G7 language came as Trump reportedly signaled he was prepared to back Ukraine more strongly and step up pressure on Russia – but only if European allies assist with clearing the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Politico, the issue was raised during closed-door discussions at the G7 summit, where Trump reportedly tied future US support for Ukraine to European involvement in maritime demining operations in the strategically vital waterway.

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Zelensky Says US Air Defense Licenses Are Key Priority After G7

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed post-G7 defense priorities with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, including US licenses for air defense production, new PURL contributions and faster deliveries of anti-ballistic missiles.

G7 leaders did not reject the idea outright, according to the report, but stressed that any such mission would require strict conditions.

Commenting on the reported Hormuz linkage, Pifer called the idea an “interesting exchange” but urged caution. He said a broader regional settlement could indirectly benefit Ukraine by freeing up more US air defense capacity.

“An end of the war [in the Middle East] would be useful in one sense – it would reduce demand in the Persian Gulf region for American Patriot missiles,” Pifer said. “That might create then more supply that European states could buy to send to Ukraine.”

Still, he expressed doubts about the reported terms of the Iran deal, citing discrepancies between statements from Washington and Tehran.

“As far as I have seen, the US administration has thus far refused to release the text of the memorandum,” he said.

No serious Putin-Zelensky meeting in sight

The former ambassador dismissed the possibility of a near-term, face-to-face meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin on US soil.

While Zelensky has said he remains open to talks in a neutral venue, Putin has insisted that any meeting take place in Moscow.

“Going to Moscow would be a fatal mistake for Zelensky, and Zelensky understands that very well,” Pifer said.

He added that there is currently no serious indication that Putin is ready to negotiate an end to the war.

Ukraine seizes drone momentum

Despite the diplomatic deadlock, Pifer said Ukraine is increasingly shaping the battlefield through technological innovation, especially its use of drones.

He pointed to recent Russian military meetings in which Putin openly discussed Ukrainian drone threats as a sign that Kyiv’s strikes are having a real impact inside Russia.

“Ukraine has seized the momentum on drones,” Pifer said, highlighting Kyiv’s success in intercepting Russian attack drones and striking deep logistics targets, including the M-14 highway leading toward occupied Crimea.

“Putin, in a way, had to mention Ukrainian drones because more and more Russians are seeing these drones striking targets inside their country,” he said.

According to the former envoy, Ukraine’s drone campaign is forcing Moscow to acknowledge vulnerabilities that the Kremlin had long tried to hide, even as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.