MUNICH, Feb 15: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday warned the United States not to strike a deal with Russia "behind our backs", as he urged Europe to stand up and make its voice heard.
Speaking at a gathering of top policymakers in Munich, the Ukrainian leader issued a rallying cry for Europe to take responsibility for its own security -- including by eventually forming a continental army.
The plea from Zelensky came a day after he met US Vice President JD Vance as Kyiv scrambles to ensure it is not sidelined in Washington's push to wrap up the three-year war.
"Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement," Zelensky said in a keynote speech.
"No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine. No decisions about Europe without Europe."
US President Donald Trump stunned allies and upended the status quo of US support for Ukraine this week when he announced he would likely soon meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin to start truce talks.
Zelensky cautioned Putin would seek to use Trump as a "prop in his own performance" -- possibly by trying to get him to Moscow for Russia's WWII victory parade in May.
Kyiv has urged Washington to come up with a "common plan" to confront Russia but Zelensky suggested there was not yet a joint stance after his meeting with Vance.
Zelensky is pushing for "security guarantees" from both the United States and Europe to ensure that any peace deal does not allow Moscow just to restart the war later.
"Putin cannot offer real security guarantees, not just because he is a liar but because Russia in its current state needs war to hold power together," he said.
The Ukrainian leader said forceful sanctions on Russia and building up Ukraine's military could help secure peace, and said he was "open" to eventually having European peacekeepers.
European leaders backed up Zelensky's call to action -- and for their continent to play a key role.
"There will only be peace if Ukraine's sovereignty is secured," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the Munich Security Conference.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk pressed Europe to establish its own stances on Ukraine and security as the United States sows doubts about its commitment to Europe.
"Europe urgently needs its own plan of action concerning Ukraine and our security, or else other global players will decide about our future," Tusk said.
"This plan must be prepared now. There's no time to lose." —AFP
