Europe Must Have a Seat at the Table
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized the limited role European leaders are playing in US-led negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia, calling their absence from key discussions a “big mistake.”
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is working to ensure Europe’s voice and interests are properly represented. In his view, any lasting peace deal must address the security of the entire continent — not just Kyiv and Washington.
His comments echoed recent remarks by Emmanuel Macron, who suggested Europe may need to rethink its own security structure in the face of what he described as an emboldened and aggressive Russia.
Another round of talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia is scheduled for next week. The negotiations began last year after Washington re-established contact with Moscow, but so far there has been no ceasefire and little tangible progress. Zelenskyy said he hopes the upcoming meeting will be “serious” and productive, though he expressed frustration that the sides often appear to be discussing entirely different issues.
Russian officials have pointed to what they call the “spirit of Anchorage,” referencing a meeting last summer between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska, where Putin argued that the “historical origins” of the war must be addressed in any settlement. Zelenskyy said Ukraine is left guessing what that phrase truly implies.
He also warned that conversations about possible “concessions” seem to focus disproportionately on Ukraine, rather than demanding reciprocal compromises from Moscow — a dynamic he believes risks rewarding aggression instead of discouraging it.
At the heart of Kyiv’s position are firm security guarantees before any peace agreement is signed. Zelenskyy stressed that without a clear and enforceable security framework, conflict could easily return. While European nations are expected to play a major role in providing guarantees, both Ukraine and its allies consider an American security backstop essential.
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine has already prepared detailed proposals and remains in constant contact with US envoys. He also said he expects a concrete timeline for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union as part of a broader settlement, suggesting 2027 could be a realistic target.
Elections Only After a Ceasefire
Addressing calls — including from Trump — for Ukraine to hold elections, Zelenskyy said he is open to the idea, but only if a genuine ceasefire is in place. Conducting a fair vote while the country remains under threat from missile strikes and active fighting, he argued, would be impossible.
“Give us two months of ceasefire, we will go to elections,” he said, noting the practical challenge of ensuring soldiers on the front lines can participate.
In a pointed remark aimed at Moscow, Zelenskyy said he would welcome a ceasefire that would also allow free elections to take place in Russia, where Putin has remained in power for more than two decades.
Targeting Russia’s Oil Revenues
Zelenskyy also urged allies to tighten sanctions on Russia’s energy sector, describing the country’s vast fleet of oil tankers as “floating wallets” funding the Kremlin’s war machine.
“Russian oil tankers still move freely — along Europe’s shores, in the Baltic Sea, in the North Sea,” he said, estimating that more than 1,000 vessels continue operating. He argued that without oil and gas revenues, Moscow would struggle to sustain its military campaign.
He recently discussed sanctions with Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, pushing for Russian tankers to be detained, blocked, and even confiscated. The European Union is expected to unveil a new sanctions package this month as the war enters another year.
“Without oil money, Putin would not have money for this war,” Zelenskyy said.
