During his address at the Munich Security Conference, President Volodymyr Zelensky made several critical statements regarding the prospects of ending the war, prisoner exchanges, and future security guarantees for the nation.
Zelensky expressed hope that the war could end within this year. However, he emphasized the necessity of involving European partners in the negotiation process. According to the President, Russia is attempting to ignore Europeans at the diplomatic table, which he described as unfair given that Europe provides the lion's share of Ukraine's defense funding.
"Ukraine is doing everything to ensure Europe is at the negotiating table," the Ukrainian leader stressed.
Regarding security guarantees, the President reported an existing proposal from the United States for a 15-year term. However, the Ukrainian side is pushing for longer commitments—30 or 50 years. Zelensky noted that the final duration of these agreements would depend on the position of Donald Trump's administration.
Particular attention was paid to the issue of prisoner exchanges. The head of state provided updated figures: approximately 7,000 Ukrainians are currently held in Russian captivity, while Ukraine holds about 4,000 Russian prisoners of war.
Commenting on the frontline situation and the Kremlin's ambitions, Zelensky stated that Putin aims to seize the entire Donbas to "sell" this victory to a domestic audience. The President assured that Ukraine would never withdraw troops from the region, where 200,000 Ukrainians currently live.
The question of foreign troops was also raised. Zelensky admitted he had previously hesitated to invite foreign military contingents for fear of losing allied support. Now, he says, some states themselves are afraid to send soldiers due to the threat of a renewed invasion.
Regarding the supply of German Taurus missiles, the President noted: "There is no decision on their delivery yet." However, he added that he continues to seek options for obtaining these weapons.
Answering a question about his personal safety in the context of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Zelensky replied briefly: "I do not think about myself."