Zelenskyy says Trump's words matter more than Putin's for Ukraine's security
Photo: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that real security guarantees for the country depend on a strong army, European financial support, and modern weapons, not on promises from the Russian leader, according to a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
"I don't know what Putin and Trump really discussed. Many details Trump told me, and then he shared with European leaders. What President Trump said about security guarantees is much more important to me than Putin's opinions," Zelenskyy said.
He explained that Putin will not provide Ukraine with any security guarantees. Zelenskyy said real security guarantees come from a strong army, and only Ukraine can provide that.
"I believe European countries can provide funding for the army. Weapons for this army can come from domestic production or European manufacturers. But there are critical items that exist only in the US. That, I consider, are real security guarantees," the Ukrainian President said.
At the same time, he noted that questions remain about whether Ukraine has sufficient troops on the ground, air defense capabilities like other countries, and a full modern air defense system.
"We want answers to these questions to understand what security guarantees truly mean. What you are saying, I think, is a signal from the Russian side that they will not continue occupying us. But honestly, so far these are just words. We are ready to discuss them at a trilateral meeting," Zelenskyy concluded.
Trump's security guarantees
Yesterday, US President Donald Trump told European leaders he is ready to provide Ukraine with American security guarantees. This marked a notable shift in his stance on Washington's role in ending Russia's war against Ukraine.
Trump made this statement after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Friday, they held talks at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska.
The main topic of the meeting was ending Russia's war against Ukraine. However, according to Trump, they were unable to reach an agreement on a ceasefire. The US President said the next steps depend on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy arrived in Brussels on August 17 for the Coalition of the Willing meeting. After the session, he will travel with European leaders to the U.S.
