Zelensky warns of risk of Europe being divided through talks with Russia

Prerequisites for security negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN journalist Jake Tapper that discussions on a new security infrastructure between Europe and Russia could become a source of threat. In his view, such actions are dangerous if they begin before the clear definition of the conditions for ending the war and the establishment of security guarantees for Ukraine.

The head of state emphasised that the priority task is to agree on stopping Russian aggression. Only after that, depending on the agreements reached, the parties will have grounds for discussing the security architecture between Europe (or the European Union) and Russia.

Warning about Moscow's intentions

Zelensky expressed concern about Russia's possible intentions to initiate negotiations specifically on the issue of forming a new security system in Europe. He stressed that for the European Union, the risks in such a scenario could turn out to be even greater. The reason is that Ukraine is not a member of the EU or NATO, and therefore does not have the authority to speak on behalf of these organisations.

Rejection of the "Yalta 2.0" scenario

«Ми всі живемо у Європі. Ми не хочемо “Ялти 2.0”. Не хочемо, щоб Росія нас поділила» ("We all live in Europe. We do not want 'Yalta 2.0'. We do not want Russia to divide us"), the President stressed.