Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes Russian president Vladimir Putin is “preparing for war against other Nato countries next year”.
Zelensky told reporters at the Munich Security Conference he did not believe the US has a plan for peace following Donald Trump’s surprise announcement on Wednesday that he and Putin would begin negotiations.
Zelensky warned of future aggression from Putin amid concerns the US had already handed Putin multiple concessions in advance of any negotiations.
“They [Russia] can go forward to Ukraine or they will go to Poland or to Baltic,” Zelensky warned of Putin’s long-term goals. “All I’ve got from intelligence is that he’s preparing the war against Nato countries next year.”
“And, I think so, but I don’t know… god bless we will stop this crazy guy and we will not have war in the world, in Europe – but you will not stop him just to say ‘yes, we will stop’, it is not enough.” He added that “security guarantees” for Ukraine were the only way to stop future threats from Russia.
Zelensky also claimed that a Russian drone with a high-explosive warhead had damaged the containment shelter at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant overnight, which indicated Putin “is preparing to continue deceiving the world”.
He wrote on X: “Every night, Russia carries out such attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and cities. Russia continues to expand its army and shows no change in its deranged, anti-human state rhetoric.
“This means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world. That is why there must be unified pressure from all who value life – pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for its actions.”
Zelensky is due to meet US vice-president JD Vance in Munich, as well as US secretary of state Marco Rubio.
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> Chernobyl hit by Russian drone strike, says Zelensky
> Starmer backs Ukraine’s ‘irreversible path to Nato’ in apparent swipe at Trump
> Fury as JD Vance attacks European leaders in anti-immigration rant
> Royal Navy ships in Black Sea could defend Ukraine in Black Sea
> Macron warns against Trump peace talks capitulation
Chernobyl hit by Russian drone strike, says Zelensky
Damage to the remains of the damaged fourth reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. (Reuters)
The inside of the structure. (Reuters)
A Russian drone with a high-explosive warhead hit the protective confinement shell of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Kyiv region during the night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday.
Radiation levels have not increased, Mr Zelensky and the UN atomic agency said. The drone strike damaged the structure and started a fire – which has been put out, Mr Zelensky added. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later denied the claims.
Fury as JD Vance attacks European leaders in anti-immigration rant
US Vice President JD Vance. (Getty Images)
JD Vance has sparked a furious backlash for delivering an anti-immigration speech at the Munich Security Conference in which he attacked European leaders and backed those who voted for Brexit.
The US vice president was accused of “hypocrisy” and his speech described as “bizarre and dangerous” as he departed from the usual defence focus of speeches at the conference to lash out at the UK and EU over migration and free speech.
Starmer backs Ukraine’s ‘irreversible path to Nato’ in apparent swipe at Trump
Sir Keir Starmer has said Britain is committed to Ukraine being on an “irreversible path” to joining Nato after the US appeared to rule out membership for the war-torn country.
The Prime Minister bolstered his backing for Kyiv in a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky as global leaders gather in Munich for a major security conference.
Britain has so far sought to strike a delicate balance between supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion and keeping Donald Trump, who says he has agreed with Vladimir Putin to start “negotiations” to end the conflict, on side.
Royal Navy ships in Black Sea could defend Ukraine from Russian attack – Zelensky
Royal Navy ships could be deployed to the Black Sea in a peace keeping mission to deter a new Russian attack, Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested.
Ukraine’s president said 110,000 foreign troops might be needed to secure peace in Ukraine if Vladimir Putin agrees to end his three-year war.
He outlined at the Munich Security Conference how Ukraine’s armed forces could protect the country if supplied with enough fighter jets and air defences.
He also gave a broadbrush picture of how the West could help to protect Ukraine.
Macron warns against Trump peace talks capitulation
France’s President Emmanuel Macron. (Getty)
Negotiations to end the war in Ukraine should not result in “peace that is a capitulation”, as this would be “bad news for everyone”, including the US, French President Emmanuel Macron has said.
In an interview with the Financial Times, the French president endorsed Trump’s position that it is Europe’s responsibility to ensure Ukraine’s security. “What Trump is saying to Europe is that it is up to you to carry the burden. And I say, it is up to us to take it on,” Macron said.