Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Berlin Security Conference that Russia regards a peaceful, united Europe as its enemy, warning that the threat would not simply disappear within a year. In remarks shared on social media, he urged Europe to strengthen its role in global security and stressed Germany's importance to that effort.
Zelenskyy pointed to the military infrastructure Russia has developed in recent years as grounds for his warning. He questioned whether the scale of that construction could be explained solely by Russia's war against Ukraine, arguing that it also targets the European countries he was addressing. “It's too much to be just for Ukraine. It's aimed at you,” he said.
The Ukrainian president also described an opportunity for Europe to become a stronger source of security for others around the world. He welcomed the fact that countries already look to Europe in that way, while acknowledging that much of its capacity remains potential rather than fully developed strength.
Discussing the United States, Zelenskyy said there was still a chance it would remain part of the security alliance that matters to Europe. But he also raised the possibility that Washington's international role could shrink further, saying Europe would consequently need to assume greater importance in world affairs.
Germany, he argued, was indispensable to that larger European role. He tied the continent's freedom and security to German commitment and strength, saying Europe had no alternative to Germany. Alongside that appeal, he acknowledged the severity of Ukraine's current difficulties but insisted the country would never surrender and would remain strong and European.
Zelenskyy and his team reached Berlin on November 3. The visit followed an announcement by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff that American officials would meet representatives of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union and NATO in Brussels during the week. Security guarantees for Ukraine are among the planned subjects. NATO confirmed the forthcoming meeting.
Witkoff also announced trilateral talks on ending the Russia-Ukraine war in the United Arab Emirates' capital the following week, focusing on further steps toward peace. Zelenskyy had previously said that a conversation between European leaders and the Kremlin leader had left a sense that Russia was serious about negotiating teams meeting in Abu Dhabi.
