The US aims to satisfy Putin, Ukraine's Zelensky.

 

The United States' recent comments on the Ukraine conflict have been criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who claims that the United States is seeking to please Moscow in its efforts to resolve the war.

 

Zelensky addressed US officials' remarks during an interview on February 17th, suggesting that they were being too conciliatory towards Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The US is now saying things that are very favourable to Putin… because they want to please him,” Zelensky stated, referring to efforts by the US to secure a quick resolution to the conflict.

 

Zelensky rejected the idea that a ceasefire was a victory, stressing that Ukraine would not accept any agreement solely to end the conflict. “What they want — ‘just a ceasefire’ — is not a win,” he said, stressing the importance of securing Ukraine’s territorial integrity. He refrained from ceding any territory that Russia has taken, saying that 'We will reclaim it all'.

 

In the interview, recorded during the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky also expressed concerns about Europe’s military capabilities, warning that the continent would be vulnerable without the security support of the United States. He stated that Europe is weak in terms of troop strength, combat readiness, and military infrastructure, and that its position has not significantly improved in recent years.

 

Zelensky emphasized the crucial importance of US support in Ukraine's resilience against Russian aggression. Zelensky emphasized that a Ukrainian victory would not be possible without continued US assistance, despite the country's progress over the past three years. He also spoke about the possibility of sending foreign troops to oversee a ceasefire in the future, arguing that the US should be involved to maintain unity among Ukraine's allies.

 

When asked if he would step down for the sake of peace, Zelensky said he was willing to do anything necessary to secure Ukraine’s future, including stepping down if the country were to gain membership in the EU and NATO and receive security guarantees. If Ukraine were to be accepted into the EU and NATO tomorrow, if Russian troops were to withdraw and we had security guarantees, I would no longer be required.