Could Ukraine have made a deal with Russia in 2022? Former foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba on negotiations

What Happened

In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba assessed the current US-led negotiation push as historically distinct because it is initiated by US President Donald Trump and draws in Finland and Norway rather than the E3 (Germany, France and the United Kingdom). Kuleba said Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke with Vladimir Putin but received only a lecture on medieval Slavic history, and that Russia has refused European involvement. He claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported for two consecutive days that US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is not signing off on transfers of already purchased Patriot and NASAMS systems, describing this as pressure to make Ukraine more compliant. Kuleba said the worst period was late February 2025 after the Oval Office meeting, when official intelligence sharing and support programmes were halted.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The interview signals a shift in negotiation dynamics: Trump is bypassing the E3 and testing Finland and Norway, while Kuleba frames US actions as coercive rather than supportive. His warning about European financial leverage—where EU budget cuts could constrain Ukraine after 2027—highlights that the war's trajectory may hinge on funding decisions as much as battlefield outcomes.

Watch For

Whether Hegseth approves or continues to block the Patriot and NASAMS transfers; further Ukraine-US-Russia negotiation rounds involving Witkoff and Nordic leaders; EU budget negotiations over funding for Ukraine beyond 2026-2027; and any formal Russian response to European participation offers.