MUNICH (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he will only consider an in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a unified strategy has been worked out with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy views Trump as a pivotal figure in resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, noting that the U.S. leader shared his contact information with him just before the commencement of the Munich Security Conference.

This week, Trump shifted the longstanding U.S. support for Ukraine during a conversation with Putin.

Zelenskyy is anticipated to engage with U.S. Vice President JD Vance later in the day, with many European observers hoping he will provide insights into Trump’s proposals for a potential peace agreement.

In his address at the conference, Vance urged European leaders to consider free speech and the challenges of illegal migration. He cautioned that elected officials might lose voter support if they don’t alter their current strategies swiftly.

“If you’re afraid of your own voters, there’s nothing America can do for you,” the Vice President remarked.

Vance’s comments, which included a brief mention of the ongoing war in Ukraine, came amid growing apprehension surrounding the Trump administration’s foreign policy direction.

“There is a new leadership in Washington. Under Donald Trump, we may not see eye to eye, but we will defend your right to express your views publicly,” Vance commented, receiving lukewarm applause.

The Vice President also cautioned European officials about the implications of illegal migration, arguing that citizens did not endorse opening the “floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants.” He referenced a recent attack in Munich involving a 24-year-old Afghan national who had entered Germany as an asylum seeker in 2016, which resulted in over 30 injuries and appeared to be motivated by Islamic extremism.

NATO Defense Expenditure

Earlier on Friday, Vance held separate discussions with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, emphasizing the necessity for NATO members to increase their defense spending. Presently, 23 out of NATO’s 32 member countries are meeting the alliance’s guideline of allocating 2% of their GDP to defense.

“To ensure NATO is prepared for future challenges, we believe it’s essential for Europe to take on more of the burden, allowing the United States to concentrate on its own challenges in East Asia,” Vance articulated to Rutte.

Rutte consented, stating, “We must mature in this regard and significantly increase our spending.”

Chernobyl Drone Incident

In a troubling development just hours before Vance and Zelenskyy were slated to meet, a Russian drone armed with a high-explosive warhead struck the protective shell of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, according to the Ukrainian president. However, both Zelenskyy and the U.N. nuclear agency reported that radiation levels remain unchanged.

During discussions in Munich, Zelenskyy characterized the Chernobyl drone attack as a “clear message from Putin and the Russian Federation to the security conference.”

The Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed Ukraine’s claims, while Foreign Ministry representative Maria Zakharova noted that Russia has not received invitations to Munich in several years.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was expected to join Vance and Zelenskyy but experienced delays due to mechanical issues with his Air Force plane. He switched to another aircraft and was anticipated to arrive in time for the meeting.

Trump has introduced a new level of uncertainty regarding U.S. support for Ukraine, suggesting a potential territorial compromise may arise from negotiations with Putin.

Ukraine’s NATO Aspirations

Trump’s comments have generated confusion among European leaders, leaving them to ponder how they can maintain the security assurances NATO has historically provided or fill the void left by the significant support offered by the Biden administration to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Being critical of aid, Trump appears poised to curtail or impose limitations on U.S. support as negotiations progress in the coming days.

Both Trump and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have cast doubt on Ukraine’s prospects of acquiring NATO membership or reclaiming territories currently held by Russia, including Crimea, which has been under Russian control since 2014.

“I cannot envision a scenario where a country like Russia would allow Ukraine to join NATO,” Trump stated, “I just don’t see that happening.”

In his remarks during the conference, Zelenskyy expressed that both the Biden administration and the U.S. as a whole have never truly viewed Ukraine as a NATO candidate.

Potential Sanctions Against Russia

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Vance indicated that the U.S. would consider imposing sanctions on Moscow and could potentially resort to military action if Putin does not engage in meaningful peace talks that assure Ukraine’s long-term sovereignty.

This warning regarding military options remaining “on the table” struck a contrast with the administration’s stated desire to hasten the conflict’s resolution.

Later, Vance’s team attempted to clarify the report, pushing back against its implications.

Zelenskyy Rejects Agreements Without Ukraine’s Consent

The assurances from the U.S. might have eased some of Zelenskyy’s concerns, though they fall short of compensating for the military and economic support the Biden administration had provided previously.

The Ukrainian president acknowledged that it was “unpleasant” that Trump engaged with Putin before him. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the priority should be to prevent plans that align with Putin’s interests.

“As an independent nation, we cannot accept any agreements made without our involvement,” Zelenskyy asserted during a visit to a nuclear facility in western Ukraine.

A Pivotal Moment for Europe

The path Trump is pursuing has also sent ripples through Europe, reminiscent of his earlier disparaging remarks about France and Germany. French Deputy Foreign Minister Benjamin Haddad characterized the current situation in Europe as a turning point, arguing that the continent must reduce its dependence on the United States for security. He cautioned that allowing Russia to gain victory in Ukraine could have far-reaching implications globally.

“We aren’t yet fully grasping how drastically our world is changing. Our competitors and allies alike are all moving swiftly,” Haddad told France Info.

___

Dazio reported from Berlin. Contributions came from AP reporters Lolita C. Baldor and Zeke Miller in Washington, John Leicester in Paris, Jill Lawless in London, and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine.