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Washington launched the concept of a new European security framework during discussions aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president, however, warned that Moscow could exploit such proposals to weaken NATO and redraw continental borders.
“In my opinion, this can be dangerous,” Zelensky told reporters Friday. “That should not be the main agenda.” His comments were embargoed until Saturday.
He said he was convinced that Moscow wanted to reopen broader debates on European security instead of focusing strictly on ending a four-and-a-half-year war.
“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s desire to change borders in Europe is a fact. I am sure that this is part of his concept of revising security guarantees in Europe,” he said. “It is dangerous because, in my opinion, it is precisely things like this that lead to wars or escalations.”
European leaders insisted that any choices about the continent’s security must be determined by Europeans themselves, warning against allowing Russia to dictate the terms of a new security order or negotiate the future of NATO.
The United States discussed withdrawal from Donbass in exchange for Ukraine’s membership in NATO
Zelensky said the United States had asked for the first time whether Ukraine would withdraw from parts of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, which Russia does not control if kyiv joined NATO. He reaffirmed that Kyiv would not cede its territory.
Ukraine is discussing with its partners a package of comprehensive security measures that could include specific guarantees from NATO and the European Union, as well as significant military and financial support from Ukraine for a specific period, he said. This would also include a recovery plan, he said.
“If the American side confirms precisely this to us and other NATO partners, then I will ask our Ukrainian society what it thinks: do we accept it or not?” » Zelensky said.
He stressed that any arrangement would not involve recognizing the occupied territories as Russian.
Zelensky also rejected the possibility of Ukraine committing to neutrality, saying that would require changing the country’s constitution.
“If Putin hopes that Ukraine’s neutrality will be guaranteed, that won’t happen,” he said. “We’re not part of NATO at the moment anyway.”
Zelensky says Europe must decide its own future
Zelensky warned that broader discussions on Europe’s security could allow Putin to seek changes to NATO’s military presence, including the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
He said Putin raised similar ideas with then-President Joe Biden in 2021, seeking a redistribution of power in Europe and around the world.
“I think Putin will bring up Finland and Sweden. I am sure he will bring up the issue of Hungary and the presence of American troops in the Baltics,” Zelensky said.
He said any changes in European security arrangements should only be decided by European NATO members after the end of the war.
“The sequence should be: a ceasefire, an end to the war in Ukraine and security guarantees for Ukraine,” he said. “There can be no security guarantees in Europe, or for Europe, without Ukraine. »
Energy ceasefire and prisoner exchanges are priorities
Zelensky said Ukraine’s priorities in the Abu Dhabi negotiations included an energy ceasefire, reopening the Black Sea, releasing prisoners and preparing for a meeting between leaders to end the war.
He said Russian negotiators lacked the authority to decide on several issues and that Moscow was unwilling to agree to an energy ceasefire.
“At the Abu Dhabi meeting, the Russian delegation said that it does not have a mandate to decide this issue, but we can also see that it is not willing,” he said, adding that negotiators had been asked to resolve ceasefire issues directly with Putin.
Zelensky said talks in Moscow with U.S. negotiators had resulted in an agreement on a prisoner exchange involving more than 1,000 people on each side. The exact number remains to be determined, he said, estimating it between 1,200 and 1,300.
He also said Washington supports Ukraine’s demand that European countries participate directly in future negotiations, rather than remaining outside the main negotiating room.
Britain, France, Germany and Italy were among the countries represented at the Abu Dhabi meetings, Zelensky said. He expects between three and five European representatives to participate in future discussions.
Zelensky questions Starshield restrictions
Zelensky accused SpaceX of imposing restrictions on its Starshield satellite system in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, saying the limitations hampered efforts to intercept Russian drones.
It said the speed of the system had been limited to a maximum of 161 km/h (100 mph) in occupied areas and that these limitations had been in force for five days.
Zelensky questioned the explanation that the problem was technical, saying the restrictions appeared to have been imposed by SpaceX despite previous assurances from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Starshield was more under the control of the US government.
“Starshield’s current restrictions suggest that SpaceX imposed them,” Zelensky said. “That’s what our team is telling me. So it doesn’t quite match what we heard earlier. That’s why we need to get to the bottom of this.”
He said the restrictions prevented Ukrainian forces from intercepting Russian Shahed drones over occupied territory as they approached from the east, forcing them to wait for the drones to reach areas where the limitations did not apply.
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