‘The Armed Forces of Europe must be created’ – that is Volodymyr Zelensky‘s message to deter the looming threat of Vladimir Putin.
During his speech at the Munich Security Conference today, he warned ‘America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it’ because ‘the old days are over’.
Zelensky’s warning comes after a senior Tory MP said that the UK must also be prepared to go to war with Putin.
Zelensky warned at the conference: ‘I really believe the time has come – the armed forces of Europe must be created.
‘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.’
He also warned Trump that Ukraine would not ‘accept deals reached behind our back’.
This follows suggestions from Washington that Nato membership for Ukraine is off the table and Ukraine will have to cede territory to Russia.
But Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Britain is committed to Ukraine being on an ‘irreversible path’ to joining Nato
Zelensky added: ‘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 that needs its own military.
‘An army, an army of Europe.’
This is not the first time a European leader has backed the concept of a European army.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron has long backed a European military to reduce the continent’s reliance on the US.
Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said this week ‘some of the defence chiefs have been expressing this, that we must be ready to fight a war with Russia if necessary, in order to be able to deter Russia’.
He added that this would be necessary ‘if we are to be in any position to guarantee the security of an independent and sovereign Ukraine, after whatever is agreed between President Trump and President Putin’.
Both the Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey also called on the UK and Europe to ‘do more’ to ‘share the burden’ of regional security.
On top of this, Zelensky warned a suspected Russian drone strike at Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine has sparked fears of a radioactive leak.
During his speech today, he accused Russia of flaming the conflict with the alleged drone attack.
It also comes after Donald Trump announced that he had discussed a plan to end the war in Ukraine with the Russian president.
An expert told Metro how this is a sign that the US is bowing down to Russia’s demands.
During the 90-minute phone call between the pair, both men assumed a conciliatory tone following a long period of silence between the White House and Moscow.
Trump posted on Truth Social: Trump said: ‘We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.’
‘We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now.’
He added: ‘It is time to stop this ridiculous War, where there has been massive, and totally unnecessary, DEATH and DESTRUCTION. God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!’
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Zelensky added during the speech: ‘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.’
This afternoon, Russia said it has captured the village of Berezivka in its latest breakthrough in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.
It follows a sustained year-long campaign along the eastern front and while Berezivka is small, it will allow Russian troops to advance further through Donetsk and into Luhansk – one of its main aims.
Ukrainian officials did not immediately respond to comment, according to the Associated Press.
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