Kiev, 24 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The Ukrainian leadership on Friday criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's offer to meet with US President Donald Trump, warning that Europe was at risk of being relegated to the sidelines.

Andriy Yermak, the head of the Presidential Office in Kiev, said Putin is trying to promote the idea of bilateral ​​negotiations with the United States over the war Russia started.

Putin "wants to decide Europe's fate - without Europe," Yermak wrote on X. "And he seeks to talk about Ukraine - without Ukraine."

Putin made it clear earlier on Friday that he was interested in negotiations with Trump to end the war in Ukraine.

"It is probably better for us to meet and, based on today's realities, talk calmly about all areas that are of interest to both the US and Russia," Putin told Russian state television.

"We are ready for this," he said.

During the election campaign, Trump promised that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of returning to the White House, in large part because of his good relationship with Putin.

Speaking to reporters just a few hours after his inauguration on Monday, Trump said he was eager to talk to Putin. On Wednesday, he threatened Russia with "taxes, tariffs and sanctions" if the war did not end soon.

Ukraine is heavily dependent on Western support as it seeks to fend off the invasion, primarily massive arms supplies from Washington. It remains unclear how far Trump plans to maintain the billions in Ukraine aid pledged by his predecessor Joe Biden.