It Would Be 'Suicide' for Europe, Zelensky Says

Any concession to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine will be unacceptable for Kyiv and suicide for Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared at the European Political Community summit in Budapest.

“One should not harbor illusions that a just peace can be bought by showing weakness or trading on the positions of some European countries or the status of any European nation. It simply does not work that way. Peace is a reward only for the strong. Therefore, there is no alternative to a strong Europe,” said Zelensky, as quoted by Deutsche Welle.

The head of state noted that Moscow started the war against Ukraine because it seeks to occupy its territory. “He wanted global power—first control over Ukraine, then dominance over all of you, as was once the case under Soviet or imperial rule,” the Ukrainian president stated, recalling the Soviet tanks in Budapest.

He also reported on a conversation with newly-elected U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing hope that Washington would become stronger. “But we hope that America will become even stronger. That is the kind of America Europe needs. And a strong Europe is what America needs,” Zelensky added.