Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized recent comments from the United States regarding the Ukraine conflict, accusing the US of trying to “please” Moscow in its efforts to resolve the war.
In an interview aired on Monday, February 17, Zelensky responded to remarks from US officials that he felt were overly conciliatory towards Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The US is now saying things that are very favorable to Putin… because they want to please him,” Zelensky remarked, referring to efforts to secure a swift resolution to the conflict.
Zelensky rejected the idea that a ceasefire would equate to a victory for Ukraine, stressing that the country would not accept any deal simply to end the conflict. “What they want — ‘just a ceasefire’ — is not a win,” he said, emphasizing the need to preserve Ukraine’s territorial integrity. He also firmly rejected any notion of ceding territory seized by Russia, declaring, “We will reclaim it all.”
During the interview, which took place at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky voiced concerns about Europe’s military capabilities. He warned that the continent would remain vulnerable without the security support of the United States, describing Europe as “weak” in terms of troop strength, combat readiness, and military infrastructure. He noted that Europe’s position had not significantly improved in recent years.
Zelensky also reiterated the vital role of US assistance in Ukraine’s resilience against Russian aggression. While Ukraine had become more resilient over the past three years, he emphasized that victory would not be possible without continued US support. He further explored the possibility of deploying foreign troops to oversee a ceasefire, suggesting that US involvement would be crucial to maintaining unity among Ukraine’s allies.
When asked whether he would step down for the sake of peace, Zelensky expressed a willingness to make any necessary sacrifice to secure Ukraine’s future. “If tomorrow Ukraine were accepted into the EU and NATO, if Russian troops were to withdraw and we got security guarantees, I wouldn’t be needed anymore,” he stated.
