Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday issued a warning to the United States, cautioning that any withdrawal from peace efforts would play directly into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking after former U.S. President Donald Trump held calls with both Zelensky and Putin as part of a new initiative to end the three-year war, Zelensky emphasized that U.S. involvement remains critical.
“It is crucial for all of us that the United States does not distance itself from the talks and the pursuit of peace, because the only one who benefits from that is Putin,” Zelensky stated on social media.
Zelensky also stressed the need for stronger U.S. sanctions on Russia, asserting that Washington’s actions—or inaction—could shape the course of the war.
“Banking and energy sanctions from America will greatly determine whether Putin and the Russian army will continue to profit from this war or not,” he said. While praising the upcoming European sanctions package as “strong,” he urged allies to push the United States toward imposing tougher restrictions.
On the military front, Zelensky firmly rejected Russia’s demands for Ukraine to withdraw troops from the occupied eastern and southern regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. “No one will withdraw our troops from our territories,” he told reporters, reinforcing Kyiv’s stance that it would not concede land under pressure.
Zelensky also addressed reports that Russia had shared a peace roadmap “memorandum” with Trump. While expressing willingness to review any proposals, he said Kyiv had yet to receive details. “Once we have received the memorandum or proposals from the Russians, we will be able to formulate our vision accordingly,” he said.
In a final remark aimed at Trump’s peace overture, Zelensky revealed he had directly asked the former U.S. president not to make decisions on Ukraine’s future without Kyiv’s involvement. “These are matters of principle for us and very important,” he said.
AFP
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