Europe's security at stake: Zelensky warns against appeasing Putin
- Concessions to Russia's leader Vladimir Putin are unacceptable for Ukraine. It's suicide for all of Europe, - said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Budapest, during the summit of the European Political Community. - Hugging Putin won't help. Some of you have been embracing him for 20 years, and it's only getting worse, - he emphasised.
- I spoke with President Trump yesterday, as many of you did. It was a productive conversation, a good conversation. Of course, we can't know yet what his actions will be. We hope that America will become stronger. This is the kind of America that Europe needs, and a strong Europe is what America needs. This is a bond between allies that should be cherished and not lost, - stated President Zelensky in his speech at the summit in Budapest.
The Ukrainian leader assessed that Russia is escalating the situation by introducing North Korean forces into the war with Ukraine. - Peace must be achieved through strength, - he stressed, referencing the slogan of Donald Trump, who won the presidential election in the US on Tuesday.
- Since the July summit of the European Political Community in the United Kingdom, much has been said about the need to concede to Putin, to withdraw, to make certain "concessions." In fact, some leaders, even European ones, were definitely in favour of Ukraine making "concessions" to Putin. This is unacceptable for Ukraine and unacceptable for all of Europe. It's suicide for all of Europe, - Zelensky declared.
- And what next? Should Europe seek the favour of Kim Jong Un in the hope that he too will provide Europe with peace? - Zelensky asked. - The approach of "peace through strength" is urgently needed because Europe faces danger from Russia, - he emphasised.
Zelensky: Hugging Putin won't help
- Russia didn't start this war because it needed more territory, - Zelensky said. - Russia has more land than anyone else. It wanted global power, first control over Ukraine, and then control over all of you, much as it once was under Soviet or imperial rule. Budapest remembers what Soviet tanks look like. Ukrainian cities won't forget Russian bombs. Just like Budapest, every city in Ukraine and all our countries deserve security and peace, - stressed the Ukrainian president, recalling Russia's intervention in Hungary in 1956.
- Thank you all for supporting Ukraine and our people. We are defending ourselves not against Russian words, but against Russian attacks. That's why we need sufficient weapons, not support in negotiations. Hugging Putin won't help. Some of you have been embracing him for 20 years, and it's only getting worse, - Zelensky said during his speech at the summit.
He added that Russian leader Vladimir Putin "only thinks about wars and that won't change." He can be stopped only with pressure."
