MOSCOW

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that he repeatedly urged his US counterpart Donald Trump to meet with him in person during their phone call on Wednesday.

Speaking at the 2025 Munich Security Conference in Germany, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of such a meeting for discussing specific plans and timelines for a settlement with Russia.

"I think I said first that we have to meet. But we understood each other because I didn’t say (anything) about it once," he noted.

When asked about Ukraine’s security conditions, Zelenskyy stressed that Kyiv requires firm guarantees, including strong sanctions against Russia and the creation of a 1.3 to 1.5 million-strong army to match Russian forces.

"If we are not in NATO, then as I said, NATO has to be in Ukraine. We will need an army comparable with soldiers of Russia; it’s 1.3 or 1.5 million soldiers," he stressed, adding that he does not pull off the issue of Ukraine's membership in NATO from the negotiation table.

According to his estimates, maintaining such a force would require $40 billion annually, necessitating significant financial support from Western allies.

Additionally, he underscored the need to establish missile and weapons storage facilities in Ukraine to enhance its defense capabilities.

When asked about the presence of the foreign troops in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, "Yes, we are open to this initiative. We understand… we mostly understand the details, but we need to discuss these details with leaders."

He also acknowledged that while US military aid continues, the process is "very slow" and does not fully meet Ukraine’s battlefield needs.

Concerns about presidential term expiration

Turning to the issue of his presidential term, which already expired in May 2024, he said, "I’m focusing on the survival of our country, and I am doing it really all my term."

"I’m ready to speak about elections if you want," he said, claiming that "Ukrainians don’t want, totally don’t want, because they are afraid, because otherwise we will lose the military loan, the war loan, our soldiers will come back home, and (Russian President) Putin will occupy all our territory."

Zelenskyy argued that his presidency helped to maintain unity in the country, urging those discontented with the lack of election to choose a different citizenship.

"So it’s not about myself. It’s about the future of our country. The question is to survive to save Ukraine, our independence, our people, (and) our homes. And if somebody doesn’t like (it), they can choose another citizenship," he said.