Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized on Saturday that no decisions regarding the end of Russia’s war should be made without the involvement of Kyiv and Europe, especially as the United States seeks to initiate talks with Moscow.
“No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine, no decisions about Europe without Europe. Europe must have a seat at the table,” Zelensky stated at the Munich Security Conference.
This remark came after U.S. President Donald Trump caught Ukraine and its European allies off guard by agreeing earlier this week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to open talks aimed at ending the conflict.
Zelensky urged Washington to develop a “common plan” to confront Russia, but indicated that there was no unified approach after a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Friday.
“We cannot agree to a ceasefire without real security guarantees, without pressure on Russia, and without a system to keep Russia in check,” Zelensky asserted.
He outlined that security guarantees should include imposing powerful sanctions on Russia and bolstering Ukraine’s military capabilities. While Kyiv remained “open” to the idea of European peacekeepers on the ground, Zelensky noted that further discussions with European counterparts were still needed.
The Ukrainian leader expressed concern that Washington appeared to be setting the stage for talks between Trump and Putin, warning that Putin would likely attempt to use Trump as a “prop” in his political agenda—potentially luring him to Moscow for Russia’s WWII victory parade in May.
“We must apply pressure together to achieve real peace,” Zelensky urged.
He also pointed out that Putin could not provide genuine security guarantees, not just because of his dishonesty, but because Russia, in its current state, relies on war to maintain power.
Zelensky added that Ukraine was still in discussions with Washington about a possible deal, which could involve granting access to rare earth deposits in exchange for security assistance.
In a broader call to Europe, Zelensky urged the continent to “act for your own sake,” stressing the importance of European unity in the face of Russian threats. He called for the creation of a European army, insisting that Europe must be strong enough to stand its ground and not be treated as a subordinate.
