Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he believes it is time for the creation of an “armed forces of Europe”, adding “our army is not enough”.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian president said Europe cannot rule out the possibility that “America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it”.
Ukraine has been defending itself from Russia’s land, air and sea invasion for nearly three years.
Mr Zelenskyy noted that many leaders have long spoken about how Europe needs its own military.
“I really believe that time has come,” he told the conference in Germany.
“The armed forces of Europe must be created.”
His comments come after US President Donald Trump held a call with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr Zelenskyy earlier this week, to try and kickstart a negotiating process to end the war in Ukraine.
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Mr Trump then told reporters at the White House that he didn’t see any way “that a country in Russia’s position” could allow Ukraine to join NATO.
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Mr Zelenskyy reacted to Mr Trump’s call with the Russian president saying the main issue was to “not allow everything to go according to Putin’s plan” – after the US president also said it was unlikely Ukraine would get all of its occupied land back.
In doing so, Mr Trump appeared to have conceded two of Mr Putin’s war aims before talks had even begun.
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“A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin,” Mr Zelenskyy said at the conference on Saturday.
“Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table. That says a lot,” he added.
“The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had.”
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Following his call with Mr Putin, the US president said the two leaders would likely meet soon to negotiate a peace deal over Ukraine.
Mr Trump later assured Mr Zelenskyy that he too would have a seat at the negotiating table.
“Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement, and the same rule should apply to all of Europe,” Mr Zelenskyy said in Munich on Saturday.
The comedian-turned Ukrainian president went on to say it would be “dangerous” if Mr Trump met Mr Putin before he and Trump meet.
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