– Mr. Valery, you were one of the first to raise the idea that European leaders should also participate in the meeting between the US and Ukrainian presidents.

And that's what happened. How do you assess the course of this situation? I'm not sure if I was the first to say this, but I can say for sure that I was one of the first in the world to emphasize the importance of including the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, in the meeting.

He is the only European leader who understands not only the American language but also their communication style. He studied in the United States, loves golf, and Donald Trump accepts him as"one of his own."

When I spoke about the importance of European participation, I meant not only this meeting, but also all future stages. If we are talking about negotiations with the aggressor (if they are inevitable), it is very important that European states, both NATO and EU countries, which can be guarantors of security, sit at the negotiating table with Ukraine.

– Why do you think it is dangerous to be alone with Russians?

Based on my experience negotiating with the Russians, I can say: it is very dangerous to be alone with them.

They represent the Soviet school of diplomacy - you need to constantly"catch them by the hand", follow every detail, so that they don't use your words against you, lie, or act from a position of strength.

Therefore, I categorically do not think it would be safe for President Zelensky to remain face to face with Putin. This is a trap.

– Could the Europeans' participation in the meeting have also been a preventive measure?

Of course. Such European involvement was logical and necessary, especially because of the fear that what happened on February 28, 2025, would happen again in the White House, in the Oval Office. Such a situation would have been extremely dangerous. Fortunately, it did not happen again.

Although I did not expect that this"landing" would be organized so quickly, it is very good that it happened. It strengthened Ukraine's positions and helped avoid unilateral decisions.