Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, proper, prepares to handle the viewers throughout a session on the Munich Safety Convention in Munich, Germany, on February 14, 2026.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope on Saturday (February 14, 2026) that U.S.-brokered peace talks subsequent week in Geneva can be severe and substantive, however he voiced concern that Ukraine was being requested “too typically” to make concessions within the negotiations.
“We actually hope that the trilateral conferences subsequent week can be severe, substantive, useful for all us however truthfully typically it feels like the edges are speaking about utterly various things,” Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned in a speech on the Munich Safety Convention.
The Ukrainian chief mentioned he was feeling “slightly bit” of stress from U.S. President Donald Trump, who yesterday (February 13, 2026) mentioned Mr. Zelenskyy mustn’t miss the “alternative” to make peace quickly.
“The People typically return to the subject of concessions and too typically these concessions are mentioned solely within the context of Ukraine, not Russia,” Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned.
Nevertheless, he added that he hoped the U.S. would keep concerned within the negotiations, and that there could be a chance for Europe, which he mentioned was presently sidelined, to play an even bigger function. Mr. Zelenskyy has up to now expressed concern that U.S. Congressional mid-term elections may focus the Trump administration on home political points after the summer season.
Ukraine and Russia have engaged in two latest rounds of talks brokered by Washington in Abu Dhabi, which had been described by the edges as constructive however didn’t obtain any main breakthroughs.
Russia mentioned its delegation to Geneva could be led by Putin adviser Vladimir Medinsky, a change from Abu Dhabi at which Russia’s staff was led by army intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov.
Ukrainian sources have beforehand criticised Mr. Medinsky’s dealing with of the talks, accusing him of delivering historical past classes to the Ukrainian staff as a substitute of participating in substantive negotiations.
‘Weapons growing quicker than political choices to finish conflict’
Mr. Zelenskyy decried that arms are growing quicker than political efforts to finish the Russian invasion, Europe’s deadliest battle since World Conflict II.
“Weapons evolve quicker than political choices meant to cease them,” he instructed the Munich Safety Convention, saying that Iranian-designed Shahed drones that Russia launches have change into a lot deadlier because the conflict drags on.
‘Putin is a slave to conflict’: Zelenskyy
Mr. Zelenskyy additionally mentioned that Russian chief Vladimir Putin was a “slave to conflict.”
“Nobody in Ukraine believes (Putin) will ever let our individuals go, however he is not going to let different European nations go both, as a result of he can not let go of the very concept of conflict. He may even see himself as a tsar, however in actuality he’s a slave to conflict,” Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned.
‘Each energy plant in Ukraine broken in Russian strikes’
Each energy plant in Ukraine has been broken by Russian assaults, Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned, as Kyiv and its allies accuse Moscow of intentionally freezing Ukraine’s inhabitants.
“There’s not a single energy plant in Ukraine that’s not broken by Russian strikes,” Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned. “Generally we handle to ship new missiles for our Patriots or NASAMS simply earlier than an assault and typically on the final second,” he added, calling for speedier arms deliveries for Ukraine’s Western-supplied air defence methods.
Printed – February 14, 2026 06:37 pm IST