Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the formation of an “army of Europe” to defend against Russia, implying that the United States may no longer come to the continent’s rescue.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he also stated that Ukraine will “never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement” after US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to resume peace negotiations.
In a speech on Friday, US Vice President JD Vance criticized European democracy and warned that Europe needs to “step up in a big way” on defense.
Zelensky said, “I really believe the time has come—armed forces of Europe must be created.”
He said, “Yesterday here in Munich, the US vice president made it clear [that] 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.”
Earlier this week, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was a “factory reset” for NATO, which signaled the alliance needed to be “robust,” “strong,” and “real.”
On Saturday, Zelensky stated, “Let’s be honest. Now we can’t rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on an issue that threatens it.
“Many, many leaders have talked about Europe needing its own military. An army, an army of Europe.”
Other leaders, notably France’s President Emmanuel Macron, have floated the concept of a European army to lessen the bloc’s reliance on the United States.
Zelensky said, “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.
“The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had.”
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches its three-year anniversary, both Trump and Hegseth have stated that Ukraine is unlikely to join NATO.
The US Defense Secretary also stated that a restoration to Ukraine’s pre-2014 boundaries was impossible.
Zelensky stated that he would “not rule out NATO membership for Ukraine.”
