An agreement should come with security guarantees from Kiev’s Western backers, the Ukrainian leader has stressed
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has expressed his desire to secure a peace agreement with Russia within the year, but emphasized that Kiev requires strong security guarantees from Western backers as key to any deal. He made the remarks during an interview with Italian broadcaster Rainews24, released on Friday.
Zelensky has long insisted that Kiev needs firm security assurances to achieve long-term peace, naming membership in NATO as the best option. Moscow, however, has argued that Ukraine’s NATO aspirations were among the root causes of the conflict, and maintains that any settlement must result in the country’s neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.
“It is our wish to get [security] guarantees and to end the war this year, we will do anything for this,” Zelensky said. He mentioned the urgency of restoring peace, claiming that Ukraine wants it “more than anyone else” because “we lose more than everyone else, especially with regard to people.” However, he insisted that security guarantees must come first.
“This is for the protection of Ukraine… and the whole of Europe… So that Russia will not return again with aggression,” Zelensky said. He also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of aiming to destroy Ukraine, a charge Moscow has brushed aside as ridiculous.
Zelensky stated he is looking forward to US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office, as he expects him to help bring the conflict to an end.
“Trump will be very important in [peace talks] mediation. His team has already started contacts,” Zelensky explained. Trump has often claimed he can end the conflict within 24 hours. However, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida earlier this week, the president-elect said it might take up to six months after taking office to help Moscow and Kiev reach a deal. Trump has not provided specifics on how he would achieve a settlement, though reports suggest his team is considering freezing the current battle lines.
Zelensky has previously questioned Trump’s claims about ending the conflict swiftly, arguing that “there are no people today in the world who could just have a word with Putin and end the war.” He also opposed Trump’s reported plans to persuade Kiev to cede claims to its former territories, insisting that Ukraine’s territorial integrity should be part of any settlement.
Moscow has long stated it is open to talks but maintained that any deal must begin with Ukraine ceasing military operations and acknowledging the “territorial reality” that it will not regain control of regions that chose to join Russia. Moscow has also rejected the idea of a temporary truce, arguing that freezing the conflict would allow Kiev to regroup and prepare for further hostilities.
