Zelenskyy: Putin is a slave to war, guarantees must come first
Photo: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president.gov.ua)
Without clear international security guarantees, any agreements to end the war could prove temporary and would not prevent new Russian aggression.
This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his speech at the Munich Security Conference.
"He can't let go of the very idea of war"
"Putin consults more with Tsar Peter and Empress Catherine about territorial gains than with any living person about real life," Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the Russian president does not give up on the idea of military expansion and continues to think in terms of territorial conquest.
"He may see himself as a tsar, but in reality he is a slave to war," the president emphasized, noting that without real deterrents, the conflict could repeat or escalate in the future.
Security guarantees must come before any peace deal
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine already has prepared agreements with the United States and European partners regarding security guarantees, and these should form the basis of any future peace agreements.
"We have strong agreements ready to be signed with the US and Europe. We think that the agreement on security guarantees should come before any agreement to end the war. Those guarantees answer the main question - How long there will be no war again? And we hope President Trump hears us," Zelenskyy said.
What security guarantees for Ukraine include
Earlier, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine's security guarantee system should include European Union membership and the creation of a long-term mechanism to deter Russia.
Western media reported that Ukraine, together with the US and European partners, has agreed on a contingency plan in case Moscow violates a potential peace agreement. The document outlines both diplomatic and military measures, including the possibility of a rapid coordinated response by allies within 72 hours in the event of a new large-scale Russian offensive.
During a recent visit to Kyiv, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that after a peace agreement, Ukraine could immediately receive support from Alliance countries — including the presence of military forces, aviation, and naval components from countries that agree to provide security guarantees.
He also emphasized that the US, European countries, and Canada are ready to join in providing Ukraine with these security guarantees.
