Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized recent statements from US officials regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, suggesting that the United States is attempting to “please” Russian President Vladimir Putin in its efforts to resolve the war.
In an interview aired on Monday, February 17, Zelensky responded to US remarks that seemed to lean towards a conciliatory stance on Russia.
He accused US officials of making comments that were overly favorable to Putin in hopes of ending the conflict swiftly. “The US is now saying things that are very favorable to Putin… because they want to please him,” Zelensky remarked.
Zelensky dismissed the idea of a ceasefire as a form of victory, emphasizing that Ukraine would not settle for any agreement that did not secure its territorial integrity.
“What they want — ‘just a ceasefire’ — is not a win,” he asserted, underscoring Ukraine’s commitment to reclaiming all of its territory seized by Russia. “We will reclaim it all,” he declared.
The comments were made during the Munich Security Conference, where Zelensky also voiced concerns over Europe’s military readiness.
He described Europe as “weak” in terms of troop strength, combat readiness, and military infrastructure, warning that the continent would remain vulnerable without robust security support from the United States.
According to Zelensky, Europe’s defense capabilities had not significantly improved in recent years.
Highlighting the importance of US assistance, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine’s resilience against Russian aggression over the past three years would not have been possible without American support.
He also touched upon the potential deployment of foreign troops to monitor a future ceasefire, noting that US involvement would be essential to maintain unity among Ukraine’s allies.
When asked whether he would step down to facilitate peace, Zelensky expressed his willingness to do whatever was necessary for Ukraine’s future.
He said that if Ukraine were accepted into the European Union and NATO, with Russian troops withdrawn and security guarantees provided, he would consider stepping down.
“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 added.