Zelenskiy calls for European army to deter Russia
- 15 February, 10:03
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for the creation of a combined European army to deter any threat from Russia as he suggested the US may no longer help the continent.
“I really believe that the time has come that the armed forces of Europe must be created. Three years of full-scale war have proven that we already have a foundation for a united European military force,” Zelenskiy said while addressing the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. "Let's be honest, now we can't rule out that America might say 'no' to Europe on issues that might threaten it," he added.
Zelenskiy also said his country would "never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement" with reference to US President Donald Trump’s announcement this week that he and Vladimir Putin had agreed to start peace negotiations over Ukraine. Trump’s shocking remarks came amid mounting concerns over US policy shift with regards to Ukraine war after Trump suggested that he would make concessions to Russia. Trump said in a statement on Thursday he trusted that Putin wanted peace and also blamed Ukraine’s NATO aspirations as the reason behind the ongoing three-year war. Trump’s remarks voiced after his lengthy phone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signaled weakening of the decades-old relationship between the US and the European Union.
Compounding these concerns were the remarks voiced at the Munich Security Council by US Vice President JD Vance who accused European leaders of stifling free speech, failing to curb illegal migration and undermining democratic processes.
