Ukraine needs real security guarantees, not just ceasefire – Zelenskyy

He warned that a ceasefire without security guarantees could allow Russia to regroup and launch new attacks, putting both Ukraine and its allies at risk.

"We want a lasting peace for Ukraine. We need to establish a ceasefire, exchange prisoners, and then use diplomacy to reclaim all territories," he said.

"What happens next with President Trump? What if a ceasefire is agreed upon, but three months later, Putin launches a new wave of attacks? How would that make Trump look? How would that make Ukraine look? How would the whole world look?"

Putin fears U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, but if Trump agrees to a ceasefire without solid security guarantees for Ukraine, "he will effectively be giving a pass to Putin."

"No, he [Trump] doesn’t want this. I believe him when he says that," Zelensky added.

The Ukrainian president stressed that Putin’s goal is to create tensions between him and Trump and ultimately continue the occupation of Ukrainian territory.

"Do not wait for Putin’s goodwill. He must be compelled to stop the war. That is what matters," he stressed.

Zelensky also noted the need to strengthen Ukraine following a ceasefire, particularly through increased military support.

"If a ceasefire works, no one will need to use weapons. But they must remain in place," he stated.

The Ukrainian president recalled that before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine had requested both military assistance and preventive sanctions against Russia from its partners to deter aggression. Instead, he received assurances that sanctions would be imposed only if the invasion took place.

He stressed the USA being crucial for imposing sanctions on aggressor state.

"Security guarantees without the United States are impossible," he said.

"These security guarantees can help prevent Russian aggression. We have bilateral security agreements with several countries, financial support, military assistance, humanitarian aid, and demining programs—all of which are crucial. But these measures alone are not enough to deter Putin’s aggression."

Ukraine-Russia peace talks

• On Nov. 20, Reuters reported that Putin was open to discussing a ceasefire with Trump but refused to make significant territorial concessions while insisting that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitiopns.
• On Dec. 20, The Washington Post reported that Trump planned to meet with Putin in 2025, though analysts were skeptical about the prospects of a peace deal, given Putin’s rigid demands and Trump’s concerns about appearing weak by making concessions.
• On Dec. 26, Putin suggested Slovakia as a potential "negotiation platform" for talks with Ukraine while rejecting Trump’s proposed "peace plan," which included postponing Ukraine’s NATO membership for ten years.
• Zelenskyy has previously acknowledged that Ukraine lacks the military capability to restore its 1991 borders but remains committed to diplomatic efforts to reclaim Crimea.