By Vitalii Hnidyi and Valentyn Ogirenko
DNIPROPETROVSK REGION, Ukraine (Reuters) – Peace talks this week between Russia and the U.S. aimed at ending three years of war in Ukraine have not impressed front-line Ukrainian troops, who see no quick end to the fighting if Kyiv is left out of negotiations.
Clutching an assault rifle, an infantryman who goes by the call sign “Rugbyist” recalled Ukraine’s fierce resistance in the first weeks of Russia’s February 2022 invasion, before Western support poured in, and suggested his country could do it again if needed.
In any case, he had not placed high hopes in U.S. President Donald Trump standing up for Ukraine: “You can’t be betrayed by a person you didn’t expect anything from.”
Another soldier, known as “Pruzhynka”, was equally dismissive of the Russian-U.S. talks held in Saudi Arabia and said he still plans to take the fight to the enemy when he returns to the front.
“Maybe they decided something over there – but that’s their opinion,” the 21-year-old, whose call sign means “spring”, told Reuters at a training base in southeastern Ukraine.
“Ukrainians won’t believe all that.”
Trump’s push for a quick peace with Moscow while sidelining Ukraine has caused fear among many Ukrainians and their allies.
But front-line troops say they are determined to fight on, citing three years of bitter sacrifices and the loss of tens of thousands of comrades-in-arms.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has dismissed any deals made behind Ukraine’s back and has sought strong security guarantees from Kyiv’s partners before agreeing to any settlement.
Trump envoy Keith Kellogg said on Friday that he had “extensive and positive” talks with Zelenskiy during a trip to Kyiv but offered no further information.
Also on Friday, the Kremlin hinted at a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin but said the details had yet to be worked out.
On the battlefield, meanwhile, outmanned and outgunned Ukrainian troops are struggling to hold back Russian advances along much of the sprawling eastern front.
Fighting has been particularly fierce near the embattled logistics hub of Pokrovsk, defended in part by troops from Ukraine’s 68th Jaeger Brigade.
At their training ground, soldiers said they had little faith in the ongoing peace effort and saw no immediate end to the fighting.
“There are many patriots among us – we’re descendants of the Cossacks,” said “Alladin”, who was training the troops.
“We will fight till the end.”
(Writing by Dan Peleschuk; editing by Giles Elgood)
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