Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the US is making statements that appear to please Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an attempt to achieve a quick resolution. Zelenskyy warned against repeating the mistakes made in Afghanistan and opposed any territorial concessions.
According to Zelenskyy, the rhetoric from the United States is currently aimed at appeasing Putin in order to achieve quick success. However, he emphasized that a ceasefire “will not be successful.” These remarks were made by the Ukrainian president during an interview with ARD TV channel, as reported by UNN.
Before talks began between US and Russian representatives on potential peace talks regarding Ukraine, President Zelenskyy warned the West not to repeat past mistakes.
During the Maischberger talk show on ARD, Zelenskyy reminded viewers of the hasty withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan in 2021. He opposed negotiating strategies that would abandon key demands before the start of talks, as ARD reported.
In the interview, Zelenskyy reiterated the importance of a strong US role in Ukraine following a peace agreement.
“Today, Ukraine is no longer the same country it was at the start of Russia’s aggressive war,” Zelenskyy said, citing Ukraine’s now extensive experience in producing its own weapons. “But Ukraine cannot achieve victory without US support,” he added, according to the TV channel.
Zelenskyy also emphasized that ceasefire negotiations should include security guarantees. While former President Trump suggested a European military contingent could help Ukraine, Zelenskyy maintained that “Americans have to be there.” It’s not just about the number of troops, he argued, but also about showing strength to Putin, signaling that all allies are united in protecting Ukraine.
As ARD reported, Zelenskyy acknowledged Trump’s “close relationship with Putin.” However, he emphasized that “there can be no genuinely good relations between the heads of state of the United States and Russia” because their values, cultures, and ideologies are fundamentally different.
Zelenskyy himself had many “positive conversations” with Trump, but noted that “everything now depends on the outcome,” as per ARD.
When discussing the possibility of territorial concessions to Russia in future peace talks, Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Ukraine would not “legally give up its territories.” He expressed confidence that the areas of his country that Russia has illegally annexed will one day be returned to Ukraine.
“Of course, we will return everything. Respect for international law will be restored. If not today, then tomorrow,” the President of Ukraine declared.
In response to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s comments about the improbability of Ukraine returning to its 2014 borders, Zelenskyy remarked that the Pentagon chief “needs to go into the details. I think he needs an hour to understand.”
However, Zelenskyy voiced concerns that the US is currently making statements that “really please Putin.” He suggested that the US is attempting to “please him” in order to quickly achieve a resolution. But Zelenskyy asserted that a ceasefire “will not be successful,” according to ARD.
Finally, Zelenskyy stressed that the issue of Ukraine’s potential NATO membership cannot be excluded from the peace negotiations.
“You cannot simply exclude it. That’s not how it works,” he said. “I don’t think anyone wants Afghanistan 2.0,” the Ukrainian President concluded.
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