Europe Must Have a Strong Seat at the Table
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it is a “big mistake” that European leaders are largely absent from U.S.-led negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia. He stressed that a lasting peace must address the security needs of all of Europe, not just Kyiv and Washington.
Zelenskyy noted that upcoming trilateral talks with Russia and the United States have seen little progress toward a ceasefire. He expressed frustration that the parties often seem to be “talking about completely different things” and criticized the focus on concessions from Ukraine alone, warning that without reciprocal demands on Russia, aggression could be rewarded rather than deterred.
Security Assurances and EU Timeline
Kyiv insists that any peace deal include clear, enforceable security guarantees. Zelenskyy said these are essential to prevent future conflict, with European nations shouldering much of the responsibility while the U.S. provides a critical backstop. He confirmed Ukraine has prepared detailed proposals and is ready to formalize agreements with both European and American partners.
On the question of European Union membership, Zelenskyy suggested a formal accession date could be part of a settlement, potentially as soon as 2027. Regarding elections, he emphasized that a vote could only take place under a genuine ceasefire, pointing out that soldiers on the front lines cannot cast ballots. He added that he would welcome a similar ceasefire in Russia to allow free elections there.
Targeting Russia’s Oil Revenue
Zelenskyy also called for stronger measures to block Russia’s oil earnings, which continue to fund the war. He said Moscow still relies on a fleet of more than 1,000 tankers operating near European waters, describing them as “floating wallets for the Kremlin.”
He urged stricter enforcement, including detaining, blocking, or confiscating vessels that evade sanctions, and said he recently discussed these measures with Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen. “Without oil money,” Zelenskyy warned, “Putin would not have money for this war.”
