January 19, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Zelensky promises to protect Europe instead of the United States if it joins NATO


Zelensky Trying by all means to get into NATOpromising, what The Ukrainian army will protect Europe instead of the United States. Earlier, in cooperation with Western countries, he promised to give the natural resources of Ukraine in exchange for this.

In an exclusive interview Associated PressZelensky noted that Russia does not want to participate in negotiations on the ceasefire or discuss any concessionswhich The Kremlin considers as a defeat, While his troops have an advantage on the battlefield.

He also said that US President Donald Trump could lead the Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiation table, threatening sanctions aimed at the Russian energy and banking systems, as well as continuing to support the Ukrainian army.

“I think these are the closest and most important steps”, He said in an interview. Zelensky’s comments followed Trump's statements on Friday, who stated that American and Russian officials were “already discussing” the end of the war. Trump added that his administration held “very serious” negotiations with Russia, but did not provide additional details.

“Ukrainian and American delegations must work on an agreement”, – stressed Zelensky. “They can have their own relations, but talking about Ukraine without us is dangerous for all”– he added.

Zelensky noted that his team contacted the Trump administration, but these discussions are at a “general level”, and he hopes that personal meetings will soon take place to develop more detailed agreements.

“We need to work more on it”He said, adding that Trump, of course, focused on internal matters in the first weeks after his inauguration.

Russia continues to slowly but correctly achieve success at the front, and Ukrainian forces suffer from a serious lack of personnel.

Zelensky awaits the actions from Trump. Most Ukrainians want to terminate hostilities to restore their former life. The country is faced with almost daily Russian attacks, while strokes on electric networks immerse entire cities into the darkness. Millions of Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes, not having the opportunity to return, since vast territories in the east of the country turned into ruins.

Almost a fifth of Ukraine is now under Russian control. With the return of Trump to the White House, the relations of Ukraine with the United States, its largest and most important ally, are also at a crossroads.

In the first telephone conversation with Trump during the election campaign, Zelensky said that they agreed to meet if Trump won to discuss the steps necessary to end the war.

However, the planned visit of the special representative of Trump in Ukraine, Kita Kelog, was postponed “For legal reasons”said Zelensky. This happened against the backdrop of a sudden suspension of external assistance, which in fact forced Ukrainian organizations to stop their projects.

Zelensky wants Ukraine, Russia, the USA and EU We sat down at one table.“I believe that, first of all, (it is necessary) to hold a meeting with him, and this is important. And this, by the way, is that everyone wants in Europe “– said Zelensky, referring to “General vision of the quick end of the war.”

After discussing with Trump, “We should go to some kind of dialogue with the Russians. And I would like to see the USA, Ukraine and Russia at the negotiating table. And to be honest, the EU voice should also be there. I think that would be fair and effective. But how will it develop? Don't know”, He added.

Zelensky warned that Putin should not allow the war to control the war, which is an obvious reference to Russia's multiple threats about the escalation during the presidency of Joe Biden.

Without security guarantees from the allies of Ukraine, according to Zelensky, any agreement with Russia will be only a harbinger of future aggression. The entry into NATO remains the main goal of Kyiv, which Moscow categorically rejected.

“Russia cannot decide who will go to NATO”– said Zelensky. Introduction to NATO is “cheapest” The option for the allies of Ukraine will also strengthen Trump geopolitically, says Zelensky. “I really believe that these are the cheapest security guarantees that Ukraine can get the cheapest for everyone”, He said.

“This will be a signal that it is not Russia to decide who should be in NATO, but the United States of America. I think it will be a big victory for Trump “, -He added, obviously, referring to the president’s tendency to victories and business settlements.

In addition, according to Zelensky, the Ukrainian army, numbering 800,000 people, will be an advantage for an alliance, especially if Trump seeks to return American troops abroad.

Other security guarantees should be supported by sufficient weapons from the United States and Europe, as well as the support of Kyiv in the development of its own defense industry, he said.

The deployment of European and American troops is the cherished dream of Zelensky. He also said that the French proposal for the deployment of European forces in Ukraine to restrain Russian aggression begins to take shape, but expressed skepticism, noting that there are many questions regarding the structure of command and control, the number of troops and their deployment. This question was raised by French President Emmanuel Macron and Trump, he said.

“I said in the presence of both leaders that this interests us as part of a security guarantee, but not as the only security guarantee”, He said. “This is not enough”.

And added: “Imagine there is a probability. The question is, who answers? Who is the main one? What will they do if Russian blows occur? Rockets, landing, attack from the sea, crossing land borders, attack. What will they do? What are their orders? “

When asked if he asked Macron these questions, he smiled and said: “We are still in the process of this dialogue.”

After the statement of the American Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the war returned Ukraine 100 years ago, Zelensky called on Rubio to visit Ukraine. “Rubio must come to Ukraine, first of all, to see what Russia did”– said the Ukrainian president. “But to see what the Ukrainian people did, what he was able to do for the security of Ukraine and the world, as I said, and just talk to these people.”

PS Zelensky is still trying to talk with Putin from the standpoint of strength, not understanding that the situation is no longer the same as in the summer of 2022. He also does not understand the fact that the US Army is not in Europe to protect Europe, but to demonstrate US forces to its allies, as well as a bridgehead for operations in the region. However, perhaps he just pretends that he does not understand …



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