Zelenskyy Calls for Unified European Pressure on Putin; European Nations Discuss Potential Troop Deployment to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the Munich Conference on Security on Saturday, February 15, urged European nations to exert unified pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to achieve a just peace in Ukraine. He emphasized the necessity of creating a unified European army with the participation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, stating that Europe needs its own united army. He also suggested that Trump and Putin can discuss everything, but not about Ukraine without Ukrainian participation and proposed that Western leaders meet on February 24, the third anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion, to develop "a clear vision of next steps – for peace, security guarantees, and our future collective policy." Several European countries are reportedly discussing a confidential plan to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine following a potential peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow, according to the Associated Press. While specific details of these discussions, involving the UK and France, remain undisclosed, sources indicate that participants are hesitant to reveal their strategies to avoid providing Russian President Vladimir Putin with an advantage in peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Friedrich Merz, a candidate for German Chancellor from the CDU/CSU bloc, stated at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, February 15, that it is essential for NATO allies to jointly uphold the decision regarding Ukraine's future membership in the alliance. He also criticized statements made by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris regarding freedom of speech in Europe, emphasizing that freedom of speech remains a cornerstone of democratic society. Merz also revealed that he had a conversation with Harris at the MSC, during which they agreed that a path to lasting peace in Ukraine "can only be successful with close coordination between America and Europe."