The Ukrainian president claimed today (Saturday) during a speech at the Munich Security Conference that Moscow is not looking for peace. He also said: "The time has come... Europe must create its own armed forces to confront Russia. Only our army in Europe has experience of war. The European Union itself cannot cope with this, but neither can we."
Publish dateSunday 16 February 2025 - 10:11
Story Code : 307670
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed in a speech counting what he called Russian casualties in the war that Russia does not want peace. He said: "No, they do not want that."
Zelensky used the alleged attack on Chernobyl to claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to end the conflict.
The accusation comes after the Kremlin on Friday denied Ukraine’s accusation that a Russian drone had attacked the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Moscow says the Chernobyl attack was “another criminal act by the Kiev regime.”
The Ukrainian president, who said “it seems to be the most influential member of NATO, Putin,” reiterated at the Munich Security Conference: “I will not take Ukraine’s membership in NATO off the table.”
Zelensky’s comments came a day after he admitted that the United States would never see Ukraine in the NATO alliance. On Thursday, Trump blamed the Joe Biden administration, saying that their talk of Kiev joining NATO had triggered a major Russian attack in 2022.
“I believe that was the reason for the war. Biden should not have said that,” Trump said, adding that he did not think Russia would allow Ukraine to join NATO.
This is while most Western countries, especially the United States, do not support this idea and consider it one of the reasons for the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Putin also described NATO's tendency to move to the eastern flank as one of the reasons for the start of the war.
European army
Zelensky also said: "The time has come... Europe must create its own armed forces to counter Russia. Only our army in Europe has experience of war. The European Union itself cannot cope with this, but neither can we."
He faced half-hearted applause for calling for a European army, adding that the United States cannot be trusted to support Europe's defense. According to him, the Ukrainian armed forces alone are not enough to achieve "security."
The Ukrainian leader said that Europe cannot rule out the possibility that "the Americans may say no to issues that threaten Europe," noting that many leaders have long spoken about the need for Europe to have its own army.
The Ukrainian leader, who has been trying to provoke NATO members by making accusations, asked: “If Russia attacks NATO countries, how will the allies respond, or will they respond at all?”
He also said, referring to the possible idea of deploying Western forces in his country as part of some kind of ceasefire or peace agreement with Russia: “We are open to the participation of European forces in Ukraine.”
We will not accept a backroom deal
While efforts are underway to bring the parties to the Ukrainian war to the negotiating table and US President Donald Trump has begun consultations with Putin, Zelensky said: “Ukraine will never accept any peace agreement that is reached behind its back or without its participation.”
Earlier, the Ukrainian president had said in an interview with Newsmax: “Russia must return at least to the 2022 borders. I think Trump can force them to do this. He is strong.”
Zelensky also referred to a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, after which Trump said the two leaders would likely meet soon to negotiate a peace deal on Ukraine. Trump later assured Zelensky that he would have a seat at the table to end the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs, without our involvement, and the same rule should apply to all of Europe,” Zelensky reiterated. A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. He did not once mention that the United States needs Europe at the negotiating table. That says a lot. The old days, when the United States supported Europe, are over.”
“Three years of full-scale war have proven that we now have the foundation for a united European military force,” the Ukrainian president insisted. And now, while we fight this war and create peace and security, we must build the European armed forces.”
NATO membership option not ruled out
He also said, noting that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte was among the attendees, that his idea was “not to replace the alliance. It is about equalizing Europe’s participation and our participation with America’s participation.”
Volodymyr Zelensky spoke shortly after German Chancellor Olaf Schulz took aim at Washington’s new policy under the Trump administration. Zelensky also said on Friday that his country wanted security guarantees before any talks with Russia. Zelensky said shortly before meeting Trump’s Vice President J.D. Vance in Munich that he would only agree to a joint plan with Putin after talks with Trump.
Volodymyr Zelensky also said that he would call on his allies to meet in Kiev or online on February 24, the third anniversary of Russia's invasion, according to ISNA. He added: “This meeting should provide a clear vision for our next steps in peace, security guarantees and the future of our collective policy. And I don't believe in security guarantees without America. Yes, it would just be weak. But America will not provide guarantees unless Europe's own guarantees are strong. And I also won't take Ukraine's NATO membership off the table, but right now it seems that the most influential NATO member is Putin, because his desires have the power to block NATO decisions.”
He also claimed that Russia was sending troops to Belarus, potentially posing a "threat" to NATO countries on the country's border.
Zelensky used the alleged attack on Chernobyl to claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to end the conflict.
The accusation comes after the Kremlin on Friday denied Ukraine’s accusation that a Russian drone had attacked the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Moscow says the Chernobyl attack was “another criminal act by the Kiev regime.”
The Ukrainian president, who said “it seems to be the most influential member of NATO, Putin,” reiterated at the Munich Security Conference: “I will not take Ukraine’s membership in NATO off the table.”
Zelensky’s comments came a day after he admitted that the United States would never see Ukraine in the NATO alliance. On Thursday, Trump blamed the Joe Biden administration, saying that their talk of Kiev joining NATO had triggered a major Russian attack in 2022.
“I believe that was the reason for the war. Biden should not have said that,” Trump said, adding that he did not think Russia would allow Ukraine to join NATO.
This is while most Western countries, especially the United States, do not support this idea and consider it one of the reasons for the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Putin also described NATO's tendency to move to the eastern flank as one of the reasons for the start of the war.
European army
Zelensky also said: "The time has come... Europe must create its own armed forces to counter Russia. Only our army in Europe has experience of war. The European Union itself cannot cope with this, but neither can we."
He faced half-hearted applause for calling for a European army, adding that the United States cannot be trusted to support Europe's defense. According to him, the Ukrainian armed forces alone are not enough to achieve "security."
The Ukrainian leader said that Europe cannot rule out the possibility that "the Americans may say no to issues that threaten Europe," noting that many leaders have long spoken about the need for Europe to have its own army.
The Ukrainian leader, who has been trying to provoke NATO members by making accusations, asked: “If Russia attacks NATO countries, how will the allies respond, or will they respond at all?”
He also said, referring to the possible idea of deploying Western forces in his country as part of some kind of ceasefire or peace agreement with Russia: “We are open to the participation of European forces in Ukraine.”
We will not accept a backroom deal
While efforts are underway to bring the parties to the Ukrainian war to the negotiating table and US President Donald Trump has begun consultations with Putin, Zelensky said: “Ukraine will never accept any peace agreement that is reached behind its back or without its participation.”
Earlier, the Ukrainian president had said in an interview with Newsmax: “Russia must return at least to the 2022 borders. I think Trump can force them to do this. He is strong.”
Zelensky also referred to a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, after which Trump said the two leaders would likely meet soon to negotiate a peace deal on Ukraine. Trump later assured Zelensky that he would have a seat at the table to end the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs, without our involvement, and the same rule should apply to all of Europe,” Zelensky reiterated. A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. He did not once mention that the United States needs Europe at the negotiating table. That says a lot. The old days, when the United States supported Europe, are over.”
“Three years of full-scale war have proven that we now have the foundation for a united European military force,” the Ukrainian president insisted. And now, while we fight this war and create peace and security, we must build the European armed forces.”
NATO membership option not ruled out
He also said, noting that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte was among the attendees, that his idea was “not to replace the alliance. It is about equalizing Europe’s participation and our participation with America’s participation.”
Volodymyr Zelensky spoke shortly after German Chancellor Olaf Schulz took aim at Washington’s new policy under the Trump administration. Zelensky also said on Friday that his country wanted security guarantees before any talks with Russia. Zelensky said shortly before meeting Trump’s Vice President J.D. Vance in Munich that he would only agree to a joint plan with Putin after talks with Trump.
Volodymyr Zelensky also said that he would call on his allies to meet in Kiev or online on February 24, the third anniversary of Russia's invasion, according to ISNA. He added: “This meeting should provide a clear vision for our next steps in peace, security guarantees and the future of our collective policy. And I don't believe in security guarantees without America. Yes, it would just be weak. But America will not provide guarantees unless Europe's own guarantees are strong. And I also won't take Ukraine's NATO membership off the table, but right now it seems that the most influential NATO member is Putin, because his desires have the power to block NATO decisions.”
He also claimed that Russia was sending troops to Belarus, potentially posing a "threat" to NATO countries on the country's border.
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