Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said excluding the United States from a potential international peacekeeping force in Ukraine would be a “major mistake” and could provide Russia with a strategic advantage.
Speaking in Kyiv after a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Zelenskyy said discussions are ongoing among European allies about deploying an international security force. However, he stressed that U.S. involvement is essential to effectively deter future Russian aggression.
“When we talk about security guarantees, we need the United States as the primary guarantor of security, alongside European countries,” Zelenskyy said. “Europe alone is not enough. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about shared responsibility.”
The idea of an international force to secure Ukraine after a potential ceasefire with Russia is gaining traction among European allies, including the UK and France. The proposal aims to prevent further Russian incursions but remains in early discussion stages.
At a news conference following his meeting with Lammy, Zelenskyy was asked whether European militaries alone could deter Russia. He dismissed the notion, saying excluding the U.S. would align with Moscow’s interests.
“This cannot be pursued without the involvement of the United States. Doing so would be a major mistake,” he said. “It could very well be Russia’s desire to see Europe defending and supporting Ukraine without the U.S. That would give Russia an advantage and could amount to a geopolitical and strategic win for them.”
Zelenskyy added that while the European Union and the UK are crucial to Ukraine’s security, the U.S. must play a leading role in any security guarantees.
The Ukrainian leader also called on NATO allies to increase military spending, warning that failure to do so could leave them in Ukraine’s position—forced to allocate the majority of their budgets to defense in the event of war.
“I don’t know how much you need to contribute—two percent, three percent. But listen, we are spending our entire budget right now,” he said. “If you don’t want to be spending your entire budget on defense in the future, invest the necessary percentage today.”
His comments come as former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vowed to end the war but has not provided details on how, has suggested NATO members should spend 5% of their GDP on defense—more than double the UK’s current level.
Even if the U.S. agrees to participate in a security force, analysts question whether Britain and other European partners could fulfill their roles without a significant increase in defense spending and military expansion.
news.sky.com
