Ukraine-Russia battle: Zelensky says Trump solely discusses Kyiv concessions and requires 20 yr ensures
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said the US “too often” asks Ukraine for concessions, rather than Russia in renewed calls for 20 year security guarantees.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Ukraine’s leader acknowledged he was feeling “a little bit” of pressure from Donald Trump, who yesterday said Zelensky should not miss the “opportunity” to make peace soon and urged him “to get moving”.
“The Americans often return to the topic of concessions and too often those concessions are discussed only in the context of Ukraine, not Russia,” Zelensky said.
He confirmed that the US side had proposed 15 year security guarantees, although Ukraine wanted two decades or more instead.
Earlier at the conference, Britain blamed the Kremlin for killing opposition leader Alexei Navalny, which it said was likely done using a poison developed from a dart frog toxin.
Two years on from the death of Mr Navalny, the UK and its allies have pinned the blame on the Russian state following analysis of material samples found on his body, saying it was likely conducted using a poison developed from a dart frog toxin.
The Kremlin has always denied causing Navalny’s death.
The Independent View: Keir Starmer is right to embrace our European future
Zelensky thanks international allies for support at conference
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his international allies for their support but suggested there was still questions remaining over the future security guarantees for his country.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Mr Zelensky repeatedly thanked American and European allies for helping Ukraine by providing air defence systems that protect infrastructure such as power plants and “save lives”.
Previous US-led efforts to find consensus on ending the war, most recently two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, have failed to resolve difficult issues, such as the future of Ukraine’s Donbas industrial heartland that is largely occupied by Russian forces.
Russia killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny with dart frog toxin, UK and allies say
Zelensky meets with Witkoff and Kushner ahead of Geneva talks
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of trilateral meetings in Geneva.
“We count on the meetings being truly productive. We also discussed some developments following the meetings in Abu Dhabi. Not everything can be shared over the phone, and our negotiating team will present Ukraine’s position next week.
He continued: “I also spoke about our meeting with US secretary of state Marco Rubio. We greatly appreciate that America consistently maintains a constructive approach and is ready to assist in protecting lives. I thank President Trump, his team, and the people of the United States for their support.”
US ‘squandered’ claim to world leadership, German chancellor suggests
Recap: UK claims Alexei Navalny was poisoned in prison
UK to deploy warships to Arctic following Trump’s Greenland threats
Zelensky calls for more investment in Ukraine’s energy and defence sectors
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has called for investment in Ukraine’s energy sector as he met with heads of international investment companies at the Munich Security Conference.
He said on X: “With the heads of international investment companies, we discussed rallying greater support for Ukraine, investing in the energy and defense sectors, developing proposals for Ukraine’s post-war recovery plan, and work on the security guarantees.
“We need support for Ukraine’s resilience. I am confident that helping our people now will deliver mutually beneficial results in the future.
“I am grateful for this meeting and for the interest in partnering with Ukraine – I thank everyone who took part.”
Kremlin rejects claims of poisoning Navalny
The Kremlin has rejected the claims, with Russian foreign ministry Maria Zakharova telling TASS: “When the test results are available and the formulas for the substances are disclosed, we will comment accordingly.
“Until then, all such assertions are merely propaganda aimed at diverting attention from pressing Western issues,” the news agency cited her as saying.
The report also said she described Navalny as a blogger “officially designated as a terrorist and extremist in Russia”.
Source: independent.co.uk
