‘The Armed Forces of Europe must be created’ – that is Volodymyr Zelensky‘s message to deter the looming threat of Vladimir Putin.
During his speech at the Munich Security Conference, he warned ‘America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it’ because ‘the old days are over’.
Zelensky’s warning comes after a senior Tory MP said that the UK must also be prepared to go to war with Putin.
Zelensky warned at the conference: ‘I really believe the time has come – the armed forces of Europe must be created.
‘Yesterday here in Munich, the US vice president made it clear [that] decades of the old relationship between Europe and America are ending.
‘From now on things will be different and Europe needs to adjust to that.’
He also warned Trump that Ukraine would not ‘accept deals reached behind our back’.
Zelensky added: ‘Let’s be honest. Now we can’t rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on an issue that threatens it.
‘Many, many leaders have talked about Europe that needs its own military.
‘An army, an army of Europe.’
This is not the first time a European leader has backed the concept of a European army.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron has long backed a European military to reduce the continent’s reliance on the US.
Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said this week ‘some of the defence chiefs have been expressing this, that we must be ready to fight a war with Russia if necessary, in order to be able to deter Russia’.
He added that this would be necessary ‘if we are to be in any position to guarantee the security of an independent and sovereign Ukraine, after whatever is agreed between President Trump and President Putin’.
It comes after Donald Trump announced that he had discussed a plan to end the war in Ukraine with the Russian president.
An expert told Metro how this is a sign that the US is bowing down to Russia’s demands.
During the 90-minute phone call between the pair, both men assumed a conciliatory tone following a long period of silence between the White House and Moscow.
Trump posted on Truth Social: Trump said: ‘We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.’
‘We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now.’
He added: ‘It is time to stop this ridiculous War, where there has been massive, and totally unnecessary, DEATH and DESTRUCTION. God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!’
Zelensky added during the speech: ‘A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table – that says a lot.’
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