Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during his speech at the Munich Security Conference, emphasized the importance of securing real security guarantees before signing any peace agreements with the Russian Federation. He stressed that agreements without clear protection mechanisms could only serve as temporary solutions and would not prevent new aggression from Russia.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Ukraine’s Position on Peace Agreements
“Putin consults more with Tsar Peter and Empress Catherine about territorial gains than with any living person about real life,” Zelensky stated.
The President highlighted that the leader of Russia has not abandoned his plans for military expansion and continues to be driven by imperial ambitions and a desire for territorial conquests. Zelensky characterized Putin as a “slave to war,” pointing out that without reliable deterrent mechanisms, the conflict could recur or escalate in the future. According to him, Ukraine has already prepared agreements with the United States and European partners regarding security guarantees, which should form the basis for future peace processes.
Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that the mentioned guarantees should be signed before concluding the agreement to end the war. He also expressed hope that the future U.S. President Donald Trump would consider Ukraine’s position when making decisions regarding security guarantees.
International Negotiations and the Global Community’s Position
The Munich Security Conference, taking place from February 13 to 15, brought together leading European politicians as well as a Ukrainian delegation headed by the President. During the conference, Volodymyr Zelensky plans to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, American senators, the President of Azerbaijan, and other high-ranking officials.
This year’s Munich Security Report notes that Ukraine is the first victim of the new world order, where might often replaces right. The document emphasizes the risk of perceiving the war as a subject of negotiation among influential leaders rather than an issue of international law. The authors of the report warn of the danger of establishing a “peace of the victor,” achieved through the use of methods from the past.
In January and February, negotiations took place in Abu Dhabi between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the U.S., to explore ways to end the war. Although no significant breakthrough was achieved, on February 5, the parties agreed to exchange prisoners of war – the first such agreement in the last five months. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described these negotiations as constructive and focused on creating conditions for sustainable peace. The topic of a ceasefire was also discussed at the meetings.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated after the negotiations on February 4 that the number of unresolved issues between Ukraine and Russia regarding the peace agreement had decreased, although the “most difficult” points, including territorial issues, remained. Zelensky had previously emphasized that Kyiv’s position on territorial integrity remains unchanged and that compromises must be accepted by all parties.
According to reports, achieving a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia by March is unrealistic, despite the ambitious goals discussed by the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi.