The President of Ukraine has called for a European army to counter Russian aggression.
Volodymyr Zelensky told a major security conference in Munich that the continent needs to take the risk of more widespread conflict seriously, and build a common army so “decisions about Europe are made in Europe”.
This came after the US President Donald Trump called the Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. There has since been concern that concessions could be made to Russia as officials aim to end the nearly three year old war.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier this week that it was “unrealistic” for Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders.
Zelensky has now suggested that Europe cannot rely on the US for its defence as has been the case in the “old days”.
He said: “As we fight this war and lay the groundwork for peace and security, we must build the armed forces of Europe so that Europe’s future depends only on Europeans, and decisions about Europe are made in Europe.”
He also warned that no ceasefire deal can be agreed without Ukraine’s involvement.
Mr Trump has said that peace negotiations with Russia are to start “immediately”, and that his call with Putin had been “highly productive”.
The President added that the two leaders spoke about the “strengths of our respective nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together”, also saying that they had arranged to visit each other’s countries.
Zelensky has also warned that Russia could be preparing to launch “intensified offensive operations” into northern Ukraine, or an attack on NATO’s eastern flank in 2026.
He claimed that Putin is preparing upwards of 100,000 to 150,000 thousand troops organised into 15 divisions to “aggravate the situation in the Belarus direction”, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.
Zelensky also suggested that Russia may intend to attack into Ukraine, Poland, or possibly the Baltic countries.
The ISW added: “It remains unclear whether Zelensky is referring to active Russian military personnel or Russian efforts to recruit additional forces, as former Russian Defense Minister and Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu announced in March 2024 that Russia aimed to form 14 new military divisions in coming years.”
