Munich: At the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he would only meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after reaching a clear peace plan with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking after a discussion with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Zelenskyy emphasized that security guarantees are essential for any peace agreement, not only for Ukraine but for the entire European region.
The Ukrainian leader underlined that any agreement must be directly negotiated with President Trump, rather than through intermediaries. He stressed that U.S. support remains crucial and expressed hope that Trump would continue the strong backing previously provided under President Biden’s administration.
Zelenskyy dismissed the possibility of signing a peace deal during the Munich event, highlighting the absence of President Trump and referencing the historical weight of past agreements made in the city.
During his meeting with JD Vance, Zelenskyy described their discussions as productive and a potential starting point for further engagement with U.S. officials. He reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to pursue peace but insisted that security guarantees must be in place before any deal is finalized.
Additionally, Zelenskyy revealed he had spoken with President Trump, highlighting both security and economic reasons for continued U.S. support. He argued that protecting Ukraine also serves American interests by preventing Russia from gaining control of the country's valuable resources.
In separate meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, Zelenskyy discussed increasing sanctions pressure on Russia and advancing the EU’s forthcoming 16th sanctions package.
