Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded the creation of a European army, warning that Russia is "not a country that wants peace".
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference this morning, the Ukrainian President said that the continent needs "confidence in our own strength so that other people respect European power".
The Ukrainian President warned that Russia was "not preparing for dialogue" to progress possible peace negotiations, adding that it was "not a country that wants peace".
He added that Kyiv had acquired intelligence that the Kremlin intended to send soldiers to Belarus in a few months for "training exercises".
Zelensky and Vance attended a bilateral meeting yesterday
REUTERS
In their meeting yesterday, Zelensky told US Vice President JD Vance that he wanted "security guarantees" before opening up peace negotiations, warning that his country would have a "low chance" of surviving Putin's invasion without extra US support.
"You know the difficult situations, you have a chance. But we will have low, low chance to survive without support of the United States," he told NBC News.
Explaining why Europe needed its own army, he said: "As we fight this war and lay the groundwork for peace and security, we must build the armed forces of Europe so that Europe’s future depends only on Europeans, and decisions about Europe are made in Europe."
He explained that the continent must become "self sufficient, united by common strengths" since there was a possibility that the US might defy Europe on issues that threaten the continent, Zelensky said.
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"A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table. That says a lot," Zelensky said.
"The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had."
Earlier this morning, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz informed JD Vance that his commentary on German politics was "unacceptable", hitting out at foreign interference in Germany's upcoming national election next weekend.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, JD Vance urged German politicians to allow the AfD into government.
JD Vance spoke at the Munich Security Conference yesterday
REUTERS
After the speech, Olaf Scholz declared that it was “not appropriate for outsiders to intervene in our democracy” as the Tesla chief also continues to publicly support the hard right party.
Ahead of polls opening on February 23, Scholz said: “We decide what happens next with our democracy.
“It is not appropriate for outsiders to intervene in our democracy and in our elections in favour of the AfD - especially not among friends and allies. We firmly reject that!”
The German Chancellor said that Vance’s words violated Germany’s commitment to never be allowed to be led by fascists who might repeat the horrific past of the Holocaust.
