Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Saturday for the creation of a European army, as he insisted Kyiv and its backers on the continent must be listened to in peace talks with Russia.
Speaking at a gathering of top policymakers in Munich, the Ukrainian leader said that with the return of President Donald Trump to the White House Europe could no longer count on Washington to always have its back.
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.
Zelenskyy’s rallying cry 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. “Let’s be honest – now we can’t rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it,” Zelenskyy said. “I really believe that time has come. The Armed Forces of Europe must be created.”
The push for a joint continental force has been mooted for years without gaining traction and Zelenskyy’s intervention seems unlikely to shift the balance.
In the short-term, the priority for Kyiv remains ensuring its voice is heard at any peace talks involving Russia and that it doesn’t get a bad deal. “Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement,” Zelenskyy said in a speech. “No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine. No decisions about Europe without Europe.” Zelenskyy cautioned Putin would seek to use Trump as a “prop in his own performance”.