Zelenskyy: Time has come to create an ‘Armed Forced of Europe’

The time has come to create an “Armed Forces of Europe”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said while addressing the Munich Security Conference on Saturday morning. 

“The EU will not cope on its own, but neither will we,” – he stated, reiterating his stark warning that Russia could attack NATO countries as early as next year, with preparations for an attack potentially already underway.

He was referencing Kyiv’s possession of reliable intel on Russiam operations in Belarus as early as the summer of 2025. “We have clear intelligence information that Russia is planning to send troops to Belarus in the summer under the pretext of exercises. But this is exactly how the invasion of Ukraine was prepared three years ago.” 

“Are these forces for an attack on Ukraine? Perhaps they are for you, for Europe. Are your armies ready? How soon will your allies respond, if at all?” Zelenskyy asked amid uncertainty over whether Ukraine or Europe could count on US support.

“Let’s be clear – we cannot rule out the possibility that America may refuse to cooperate with Europe on issues that threaten it.”

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference a day earlier on Friday, he cited Ukrainian intelligence which said that Russia is preparing between 100,000 and 150,000 troops to enter Belarus, Russia’s closest ally, which can be used as a launchpad for a possible future attack.

“I am not sure if they will attack Ukraine, but they will attack. Maybe Ukraine, maybe Poland, maybe the Baltic countries,” said Zelenskyy.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the US administration’s criticism on the defence expenditure of its allies, only Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia have announced major defence spending increases.

During his speech, Zelenskyy said that defence spending is important, but that it is impossible to defend the states with these expenses alone.

“It is no more complicated than standing firm against Russian attacks, as we have already done. But it is not just about increasing defence spending as a percentage of GDP. Of course, we need money, but money alone cannot stop the enemy’s advance,” he added.

“Without the Ukrainian army, European armies will not be enough to stop Russia. This is the reality. Only our army in Europe has real, modern warfare experience,” he added.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he will not take NATO membership for Ukraine off the table as an option. He lamented, however, that “right now the most influential member of NATO seems to be Putin, because he seems to be able to block NATO decision,” commenting on some of Moscow’s demands being echoed by US administration representatives, such as ruling out Ukraine’s NATO membership and referring to any return to the country’s pre-2014 borders as “unrealistic“.

“We believe that the core of any security guarantees for Ukraine should be NATO membership. Or conditions that allow us to build another NATO, right here in Ukraine.” 

For this, he insisted, Ukraine would have to increase the number of its troops to match Russia’s numbers, but also, will need more money and weapons to equip them. 

“I ask each of you: if Russia came for you – could your army fight the same way? I don’t want anyone to ever have to find out. This is why we are talking about security guarantees. This is why for us it is either NATO membership – or conditions to build another NATO here in Ukraine”.