Zelenskyy Warns US Security Framework Could Aid Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a new European security framework proposed by the United States could benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy warned that Moscow might use these discussions to weaken NATO and alter the continent's borders. His comments were released on Saturday after being held under embargo from Friday.

The United States asked Ukraine for the first time if it would withdraw from parts of the Donbas region that Russia does not currently control. This question came with the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO. Zelenskyy said he believes Moscow wants to reopen broad questions about European security rather than focus solely on ending the four and a half year war.

Zelenskyy described Putin's desire to change borders as a fact and part of a concept to revise security guarantees in Europe. He called this approach dangerous because such shifts often lead to wars or escalations. European leaders have emphasized that Europeans must decide their own security terms. They warned against letting Russia dictate the terms of a new security order or negotiate NATO's future.

Kyiv is negotiating a comprehensive security package with partners. This package could include specific guarantees from NATO and the European Union, a strong Ukrainian military, and financial support for a set period. The plan would also cover a recovery strategy. Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not recognize occupied territories as Russian. He rejected the idea of Ukrainian neutrality, noting that such a change would require a constitutional amendment.

Zelenskyy said that if the American side confirms the security package with other NATO partners, he will ask Ukrainian society whether it accepts the terms. He stressed that any arrangement would not involve recognizing occupied territories as Russian. He noted that Ukraine is not currently in NATO, so committing to neutrality would not change the immediate reality.

In the Abu Dhabi negotiations, Ukraine prioritized an energy ceasefire, reopening the Black Sea, and prisoner releases. Zelenskyy said Russian negotiators lacked the authority to decide on several issues. He noted that Moscow was unwilling to accept an energy ceasefire, with negotiators telling him they needed to resolve ceasefire questions directly with Putin.

Discussions in Moscow with U.S. negotiators produced an agreement on a prisoner exchange involving more than 1,000 people on each side. Zelenskyy estimated the total number at between 1,200 and 1,300, though the exact count is still being determined. He said Washington supported Ukraine's demand that European countries participate directly in future negotiations. Britain, France, Germany, and Italy were represented at the Abu Dhabi meetings. Zelenskyy expects three to five European representatives to join future talks.

Zelenskyy questioned restrictions imposed by SpaceX on its Starshield satellite system in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. He said the system's speed was limited to a maximum of 161 kilometers per hour in those areas. These limitations have been in place for five days. Zelenskyy said the restrictions prevented Ukrainian forces from intercepting Russian jet-powered Shahed drones over occupied territory as they approached from the east.

He said the restrictions forced Ukrainian forces to wait until the drones reached areas where the limitations did not apply. Zelenskyy questioned the technical explanation for the issue, noting previous assurances from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Starshield was more under U.S. government control. He said his team believes SpaceX imposed the restrictions, which does not align with earlier statements.