Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that it is a “big mistake” for European leaders to be largely absent from ongoing US-led negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war on Ukraine. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he stressed that any lasting peace must reflect the security concerns of the entire continent — not just Kyiv and Washington.
Europe’s Voice Must Be Heard
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is working to ensure Europe’s “interests and voice are taken into account” as diplomatic efforts move forward. His comments echoed those of Emmanuel Macron, who recently argued that Europe may need to rethink its own security architecture in the face of an increasingly aggressive Russia.
Another round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia is expected next week. Negotiations began after Washington resumed contact with Moscow, but so far they have failed to produce a ceasefire. Zelenskyy said he hopes the upcoming discussions will be “serious” and productive, though he expressed frustration that the parties often seem to be “talking about completely different things.”
He also pushed back against what he described as a one-sided focus on Ukrainian concessions. “Too often those concessions are discussed in the context only of Ukraine, not Russia,” he said, warning that such an approach risks rewarding aggression rather than deterring it.
At the heart of Kyiv’s position is the demand for firm security guarantees before any peace agreement is signed. European countries are expected to play a central role in providing those assurances, but both Ukraine and its European allies see American backing as essential. “Peace can only be built on clear security guarantees,” Zelenskyy said. “Where there is no clear security system, war always returns.”
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine is ready to sign binding security agreements with both the US and European partners and remains in close contact with American envoys. He also said he expects a clear timeline for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union as part of any broader settlement, suggesting 2027 could be technically feasible.
Elections Only After a Ceasefire
Addressing calls — including from former US President Donald Trump — for Ukraine to hold elections, Zelenskyy said he is open to the idea, but only if there is a genuine ceasefire in place.
“Give us two months of ceasefire, we will go to elections,” he said, pointing to the practical challenges of organizing a vote while the country remains under attack and soldiers are stationed on the front lines.
In a pointed remark aimed at Moscow, Zelenskyy added that he would welcome a ceasefire to allow free elections in Russia as well, where President Vladimir Putin has been in power for more than two decades.
Targeting Russia’s Oil Revenues
Zelenskyy also called for tougher action against what he described as Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, accusing them of continuing to operate freely along Europe’s shores despite sanctions.
“Russian oil tankers still move freely — in the Baltic Sea, in the North Sea,” he said. “In total, Russia still uses more than 1,000 tankers. Each of them is, in fact, a floating wallet for the Kremlin.”
He argued that without oil and gas revenue, Moscow would struggle to finance its war. Zelenskyy said he recently discussed expanding sanctions with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging that Russian tankers not only be detained but fully blocked and confiscated.
As the war enters another year, the European Union is preparing a new sanctions package. For Zelenskyy, cutting off Russia’s energy income is central to ending the conflict. “Without oil money,” he said, “Putin would not have money for this war.”
