Zelenskyy accuses US of ‘pleasing’ Russia, warns of European military weakness

On the contours of any future deal, Zelenskyy said “we will not sign just anything in order to be applauded” and stressed that “the fate of our state for generations to come” was at stake.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the United States is trying to “please” Russia in talks about Ukraine and warned of Europe’s military “weakness.”

In an interview broadcast Monday, Zelenskyy reacted to conciliatory remarks from US officials towards Russia, saying: “The US is now saying things that are very favorable to Putin… because they want to please him.”

“They want to meet quickly and secure a quick win. But what they want – ‘just a ceasefire’ – is not a win,” Zelenskyy added, according to a translation provided by broadcaster ARD of an interview recorded Saturday in Munich.

Europe’s defence capability is ‘weak’

The Ukrainian president warned that Europe was in a weak position if it could not rely on the US security umbrella.

While “readiness has increased” in recent years, “in terms of troop strength, the number of combat troops, the fleet, the air force, the drones… I honestly think that Europe is weak today”, he said.