Zelensky called on the US to increase pressure on Russia and expand sanctions
During the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Donald Trump's administration to increase pressure on Russia to force it to stop its full-scale aggression. In an interview with POLITICO, he stressed that the United States has sufficient political and financial resources to influence the Kremlin.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine is currently defending Europe, while European countries are providing financial assistance to Kyiv. At the same time, he stressed that only the US is capable of forcing Vladimir Putin to stop. The president criticised signals of possible territorial compromises on the part of Ukraine without corresponding concessions from Russia, calling such a position wrong.
The head of state also stated that security guarantees after the end of the war will only work with the support of the US Congress. According to him, this will be achieved either through financing the post-war needs of the Ukrainian army or through the ratification of a relevant agreement.
Zelensky noted that the Kremlin is trying to drag out the negotiations and use them to normalise relations and weaken sanctions. He stressed that without sufficient pressure, Russia will continue the war. The president believes that Putin's goal is to occupy the eastern regions of Ukraine, in particular parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where Russian troops have made the most progress.
The next round of negotiations, involving US Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Advisor Jared Kushner, is to take place in Geneva. At the same time, the process remains difficult due to the lack of clear security guarantees for Kyiv and Ukraine's unwillingness to give up territory.
Separately, Zelensky called for increased sanctions pressure. He stressed that the restrictions should apply not only to state-owned companies and officials, but also to their families living in Europe and the US, studying at prestigious universities and owning real estate in the West. The president drew attention to the lack of comprehensive sanctions against the Russian nuclear sector and Rosatom, calling it unacceptable in the context of the war.
According to Ukrainian sources, in four years of full-scale invasion, the total number of dead and wounded has exceeded one million on both sides, and strikes on energy infrastructure have left millions of people without heat and light in freezing conditions. At the same time, Zelensky expressed confidence that Ukraine will prevail in the long term.
