CNN
–
The Ukrainian president warned that the era of guaranteed US support for Europe is over.
Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in a week that caused fears that calls between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Donald Trump have been frozen from negotiations, and dismissed the prospect of the White House joining Ukrainian NATO. I did it.
“A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. He never said America needed Europe at that table. Zelensky was robust at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. He said this in a speech.
“The old days are over, when America supported Europe just because it always had,” he added.
Zelensky’s warning was that Keith Kellogg, the Trump administration’s envoy for the Russian Ukraine, spoke at the same meeting that Ukraine was at the table to negotiate peace, but Europe wasn’t.
The European position is considered, Kellogg added that that is one of the reasons he is in Munich and that the European stance is understood. But they were not participants, the retired US general said.
Speaking to CNN’s Christian Amanpoor on the stage of the security meeting, Zelensky admitted that Trump’s first call was “not happy” with Putin. Ukrainian leaders warned that if Trump meets the Russian president before him, it would be “more dangerous.”
Trump has not offered any commitment to meeting Zelensky first, the Ukrainian president told CNN. However, the US president understood the need to “urgently meet” to discuss “specific plans” to end the war, Zelensky added.
The Ukrainian leaders spoke in a speech that barely touched on Ukraine’s issues and potential reconciliation with Russia the day after US Vice President JD Vance reflected on American European allies at a security conference.
“The US vice president revealed yesterday in Munich. The decades of old relations between Europe and America are over. From now on, things are different and Europe needs to adapt to that,” Zelensky said. said.
The Ukrainian president called for a Unified European Army, recognising that the United States may not continue to provide military support as it once was.
“Tell me honestly – now we cannot rule out the possibility that America could say “no” to Europe about issues that threaten it. Many leaders have spoken about their own military, Europe, which requires European troops,” he said.
Later in his speech, Zelensky accused Putin of playing the “game” by pursuing a one-on-one talk with Trump and removing Ukraine from negotiations.
“The next President Putin will try to put the US President in Red Square on May 9th this year, not as a respected leader, but as a prop for his own performance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zelensky also has not signed the first draft of an agreement with the US to open Ukrainian mineral deposits in exchange for future military aid from Washington, D.C., Zelensky said.
“The contract is not ready to protect us or our interests,” he told reporters at the meeting, saying he didn’t see how the draft agreement provided security assurances for Ukraine. .
In an exchange that prompted laughter from the crowd, Zelensky admitted to Trump that Putin told him he was afraid of him.
“I told Trump that Putin was afraid of him, and he heard me. And now Putin knows,” Zelensky struggled.
The Ukrainian president added that Putin appears to be the biggest influence on NATO, repeating that peace negotiations to end the conflict cannot move forward without Kiev’s involvement.
“Now, NATO’s most influential member seems to be Putin, because his whims are capable of blocking NATO decisions,” Zelensky said.
“Ukraine will never accept any transactions made behind our backs without our involvement, and the same rules should apply to everything in Europe,” he added.
“There is no decision about Ukraine without Ukraine. Without Europe, there is no decision about Europe. When Europe is making decisions about Europe, Europe must have a seat at the table,” Zelensky continues. I did.
Earlier this week, NATO allies were scrambled in the direction after Trump’s administration signaled concessions to Moscow and overturned the Alliance’s approach to war almost three years ago.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses also poured cold water into Ukraine’s NATO membership proposal, saying that before Russia invaded Crimea and eastern Ukraine, a return to the border before 2014 was “with unrealistic purposes.” There is,” he said.
After Zelensky’s speech on Saturday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tass said there was a risk that Europe “urgently needs a plan of action” on Ukraine, or that other global players could decide its future.
“This plan needs to be prepared now. In X’s post, Tusk said.
