Zelensky in Munich says what many think but are afraid to say: The old days are over.
The U.S. doesn’t see Europe as a partner. Europe must build its own army, together with Ukraine
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Zelensky: This war cannot be decided by just a few leaders - not by Trump and Putin, not by me and Putin, not by anyone here in Munich sitting down with Putin alone.
We must apply pressure together to make real peace. 1/
Zelensky: Many leaders have talked about Europe needing its own army. An army of Europe. I really believe that the time has come. The armed forces of Europe must be created 2/
Zelensky: Does America need Europe as a market? Yes. But as an ally? I don't know. For the answer to be 'yes,' Europe needs a single voice, not a dozen different ones 3/
Zelensky: 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. 4/
Zelensky: Ukraine is now the world leader in drone warfare. This is our success, but it's also your success. Everything we build for our own defense also strengthens your security. 5/
Zelensky: The US Vice President made it clear: decades of the old relationship between Europe and America are ending. From now on, things will be different, and Europe needs to adjust to that. 6/
Zelensky: The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had, but President Trump once said what matters is not the family you were born into but the one you built.
We must build the closest possible relationship with America. 7/
Zelensky: Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs or without our involvement.
The same rule should apply to all of Europe: no decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine, no decisions about Europe without Europe. 8/
Zelensky: Russia keeps opening new army recruitment centers every week, and Putin can afford it. Oil prices are still high enough for him to ignore the world. 9X
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Zelensky: I blocked the agreement with Trump on mineral rights as it does not protect Ukraine interests.
Then he goes diplomatic. It must be legally correct regarding investments and security guarantees. I don’t yet see in the document. 1/
Zelensky about meeting in Saudi Arabia: I haven't seen any invitations for Ukraine to meet with envoys. We have no documents or negotiations with our strategic partners. Russia is not one of them. 2/
Zelensky: To defend against a potential Russian offensive, we need not 50, 100, or 300 thousand. European leaders understand this and are considering the financial implications. 3/
Kellogg: Ukraine will have a seat at the table, Europe won’t.
He promises the war will end within a year, committing to 180 days.
To me, this says one thing: Kellogg actually holds no real power. 1/
Kellogg: We're doing that for speed [me talking to Ukraine, Witkloff to Russia]. Trump asked to do this job today, and he'll wanna know tomorrow why isn't it solved.
Well, I tell you why … 2/
For Russia to agree on something, Ukraine has to give up something and vice versa. So, there is no way Kellogg alone can agree on anything with Ukraine. That’s not “for speed”, this is for control by Trump, and avoiding responsibility if negotiations fail. 3/
The Trump administration asked for 50% of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.
Zelenskyy declined to sign the document when Secretary Bessent presented it in Kyiv during their meeting this week
The U.S. vaguely indicated that they may deploy troops to Ukraine to guard them 1/
I guess it is fine to give the U.S. 50% ownership, or even 100%, of the minerals under the Russian occupation.
But the rest is truly an expropriation when Ukraine is its most vulnerable 2/
NBC: Rather than pay for the minerals, the ownership agreement would be a way for Ukraine to reimburse the U.S. for the billions of dollars in weapons and support its provided to Kyiv 3/
Zelensky, after meeting with the bipartisan delegation from the U.S.: “if Ukraine doesn’t get NATO, we will make NATO in Ukraine“ 1/
Zelensky: let’s be very honest, United States, they never saw us in NATO. They just spoke about it. But they really didn't want us in NATO. 2/
On Trump-Putin call: I had good conversation with President Trump. We had some phone calls, he had phone call with Putin. And Trump said to me, I think that Putin wants to end the war. I said to him that Putin is a liar." 3/
Vance: The biggest danger to Europe does not come from China or Russia, but from Europe's political elites.
After this statement, he spent 20 minutes roasting Europe for being autocrats, betraying democratic values, and escaping reality
Here is what he said 1/
When I look at Europe today, it's unclear what happened to some of the Cold War's winners. In Brussels, officials warn they’ll shut down social media during unrest if they spot "hateful content." 2/
Citing an example: Naturally, the government urged readers to report any fellow citizen suspected of thought crime. In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat. 3/