On Trump, Putin, and NATO alternatives: Zelensky's statements at the Munich Conference.

President Volodymyr Zelensky participated in a panel discussion during the 2025 Munich Security Conference, where he commented on contacts with the United States, resource extraction deals, negotiation conditions with Putin, and security guarantees alternative to NATO membership.

RBC-Ukraine presents the key statements made by Zelensky.

A peace agreement cannot be signed in Munich

Zelensky noted that, unfortunately, there is no discussion of a peace agreement today. Ukraine is not seeking mediation between itself and Vladimir Putin, as he is the one who instigated the war. Support from a strong U.S. President Donald Trump is needed for him to be on Ukraine's side.

"A peace agreement cannot be signed in Munich. Because this is Munich, and there is no president (Trump, - ed.) here, and we remember what things were once signed here. I will not repeat such things," the president said.

A peace agreement will emerge after a plan to end the war, which must be supported by Trump and Europe. "Because we are talking about security guarantees, Europe's voice at the negotiating table is very important," he emphasized.

Ukraine and partners must protect critical minerals

There was a "very good conversation" with Trump and American colleagues. Ukraine received an investment proposal in resource extraction. However, when it comes to resources, it is important to protect them from falling into the hands of Russia and its allies—North Korea and possibly China.

"I don't know who Russia will want to give them to after the occupation. We must preserve critical minerals, and that is my message. I am glad that the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury came to Kyiv and brought a document. I said our lawyers would review it and then return it with comments," Zelensky noted.

He added that this is not a security document, but a bilateral memorandum. The president stated he is ready to meet with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance "in the evening or tomorrow morning."

"I am not ready to sign everything, but I am ready to meet. This memorandum will be signed if it is ready for signing," he said.

There is a need to meet with Trump to prepare a "civilized people's" plan

Phone calls with Putin pose a threat to the U.S. or Trump, as he is stronger than Putin. But they pose risks for the entire world. Putin claims he wants to end the war, but after direct contact in December 2019 in Paris, where a ceasefire in Donbas and prisoner exchanges were discussed, Zelensky does not believe him.

"What is important is the meeting (with Trump, - ed.). To not make decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine. This is a principled position we will not give up. I speak on behalf of our entire nation. Without security guarantees, we will simply give Putin a pause. I do not want to be the person who helped him occupy his country," the president stated.

In his opinion, Trump has all the leverage to pressure Putin; he can impose sanctions. Zelensky also expressed his willingness to come to Washington "any day to develop a joint plan of civilized people."

The U.S. has never seen Ukraine in NATO

Zelensky has heard many times from both the current and previous U.S. presidents that they do not see Ukraine in NATO.

"To be frank, the U.S. has never seen us in NATO. They have talked about it, but they never wanted us in NATO. That’s the truth," he stated.

According to him, senators and congressmen have supported Ukraine's membership, but at the presidential level, he has never heard that "we will be in NATO." And this is not a question for Trump, but for U.S. policy. However, this does not mean that Ukraine cannot change American policy.

What could be an alternative to NATO membership

Ukraine has a strong army that can strengthen NATO everywhere. Therefore, Ukraine's membership in the alliance would serve mutual interests.

"It's fine if not today, we will ask tomorrow. But what are the alternatives today? If there is no NATO in Ukraine, we will create 'NATO in Ukraine' ourselves. This means we need to strengthen the army and double the number of soldiers. We need more than 200 brigades," Zelensky said.

This is necessary because even together with Europe, which has about 80 brigades, their forces are fewer than Russia's. And when it comes to guarantees, funding the increase of Ukraine's army is needed, as well as finding ways to boost military production and the army in Europe. "We are ready to talk about this," the president added.

What could security guarantees look like

Security guarantee issues were discussed with leaders from the U.S., France, and the UK. In Zelensky's opinion, primarily America must support Ukraine together with Europe and maintain unity. And if this is part of the security guarantees, "that would be good."

Regarding foreign contingents, it does not matter which country these forces will come from.

"In any case, we need an army of 1.5 million people if we are not in NATO. If we want to not fear a new invasion from Putin after a ceasefire. And this will be a real security guarantee. Putin will know that he has 1.5 million and Ukraine has 1.5 million. And if he wants to come and die, so be it," Zelensky noted.

Ukraine knows where it needs additional armed forces.

"We have a map with numbers, for example, where we need forces from foreign partners, where to deploy them. We are ready for any positive decisions; let's act," the president emphasized.

Contacts with Trump and when will there be a meeting with Putin

Donald Trump indeed gave Zelensky his personal number and said he could call anytime. The President of Ukraine hopes that Trump will assist him.

As for rumors about a supposed meeting with Russians next week, that is not true.

"Saudi Arabia, yes, I will have a visit there. Like in the UAE and Turkey, important dialogues are planned with those who have already helped to bring back our soldiers. We have our agenda; this is an important event. They helped us with the return of deported children," Zelensky said.

He noted that he would not be meeting with Russians and does not know whether "they are glad or not, but that is not part of my plans."

"I will only meet one Russian - with Putin. Only after we have a common plan with Trump and Europe. And we will sit down with Putin and stop the war. Only in this case am I ready to meet, not under some other compromise conditions," the President of Ukraine concluded.

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During the panel discussion, American Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also spoke, making a number of interesting statements. In particular, he said that the U.S. in 2014, instead of supplying weapons, "gave Ukraine blankets."

He also noted that the situation with Russia's war against Ukraine should not end badly, as it did in Afghanistan. He is confident that Trump will not allow that.

According to Graham, Zelensky "has teeth." "If we give F-16s, ATACMS, and tanks, Ukrainians will fight. Let's arm the President of Ukraine, let's sign a mineral agreement, and Putin will lose," the senator said.

He also emphasized that Ukraine will not be accepted into NATO right now. But it is important to send a signal to Putin that if he attacks again, "Ukrainians will go to NATO very quickly."

"If we take Ukraine into NATO, Putin will just go crazy. He is already crazy, I think. We are talking about scaring him so that he thinks twice before doing anything. If you do something, we will destroy your economy, tear your country apart with sanctions," Graham added.

Follow the main events of the Munich Security Conference online at RBC-Ukraine.

Previously, RBC-Ukraine presented key statements from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the Munich Conference.

Right now, Zelensky is meeting with him.