Yesterday at 21:08
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he does not believe in the supposed willingness of the Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin to “make peace” and told this to Donald Trump during a conversation on February 12.
He said this on February 14 at the panel “Strategic Investment: The Future of U.S. – Ukraine Security Cooperation” at the Munich Security Conference.
Zelenskyy stated that there are no risks for Trump in talking to Putin because he is stronger than Putin, but “I think there are risks for the whole world.”
“Because… we have much more risks than the U.S. With all due respect to the ‘grown-ups,'” he added.
The head of state noted that he had already had several phone conversations with the U.S. president, including the call on February 12.
“He told me: ‘I think Putin wants to end the war.’ I told him that he’s a liar, you can rely on that. I hope you will put pressure on him because I don’t trust him,” Zelenskyy recounted.
He reminded that he had already made agreements with the Kremlin dictator about a “ceasefire” when he was elected in 2019, and those agreements were never implemented.
“What is important is not to make decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine. This is a principled position. And I mean all of our people,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
It is worth recalling that in the evening of February 12, Donald Trump spoke with the ruler of the Kremlin and stated that he and Putin are planning a meeting. After that, Trump called Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to Axios, at the end of the conversation, Trump gave Zelensky his personal number and said that he could call him directly.
Earlier, Zelenskyy stated that if the U.S. and Russia hold negotiations to resolve the war without Ukraine’s involvement, Ukraine will not accept them.
Other key comments from the Ukrainian President:
A peace agreement cannot be signed in Munich, we remember what was signed here – I won’t repeat that, – Zelenskyy
This was stated by Ukrainian President during his participation in the Strategic Investment panel: The Future of US-Ukrainian Security Cooperation.
We do not have two countries fighting each other, but Russia brought the war to our land. Therefore, we do not need a mediator, we need the US to be on our side, said the head of state.
Today there is no talk of a peace agreement, he clarified.
We just don’t need a ceasefire, – Zelenskyy:
- We had a conversation about a complete ceasefire with Putin and an exchange of prisoners, but he did not exchange prisoners. He is a liar.
- The President noted that Trump’s support is very important and he should be on Ukraine’s side. Europe should also be an equal partner.
- We do not have two countries fighting each other, but Russia brought the war to our land. Therefore, we do not need a mediator, we need the United States to be on our side.”
Senator Lindsey Graham after Zelenskyy’s speech called for continued full support for Ukraine, including with weapons:
- This must be done so that the story with Afghanistan does not repeat itself.
- He noted that there must be guarantees under which Putin will never attack again.
- If we sign an agreement on Ukrainian minerals, this war will end.
I have never heard during conversations that we will be in NATO. Never. And this is not a question for Trump. This is a question for US policy, Zelenskyy said:
- It is in NATO’s interests to have an army like the Ukrainian one.
- If there is no NATO, we need to increase the army.
- I do not want to be the person who helped Putin occupy my country. Therefore, it is important for me to put pressure on Putin, to introduce all possible sanctions against him.
