• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Zelenskyy Urges US, Other Partners To Stand Strong In Face Of Russian Demands

By RFE/RL March 27, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukraine's partners to be "at least as resilient as we are" in the face of conditions Russia has placed on the implementation of a Black Sea cease-fire agreement.

Zelenskyy, speaking to journalists in Paris ahead of a meeting of European leaders on March 27, said he had agreed to proceed with cease-fire talks in Saudi Arabia to ensure a resumption of US aid and intelligence sharing.

The White House said the talks resulted in an agreement "to develop measures for implementing" recent commitments to halt strikes on energy facilities and a cease-fire in the Black Sea.

But Russia is demanding a number of conditions be met, including an easing of sanctions, in exchange for adhering to the agreement.

"They are posing conditions on sanctions to the American side. If America stands strong...we are standing on our own land and are defending ourselves," Zelenskyy said.

"We have shown our resilience. And now it is very important for our partners to be at least as resilient as we are, though they have more capabilities," he told the journalists.

Asked whether he believed the Americans would remain strong, he answered, "I hope so. God bless they will."

Zelenskyy also said that pro-Kremlin comments indicated that some on the US side had become "influenced" by Russian narratives of the conflict, weakening pressure on Russia.

"We cannot agree with these narratives. We are fighting for ourselves, and we will fight against these narratives wherever they appear because there is simply no other way," he said.

He cited comments by US envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who he said "often repeats Kremlin narratives."

"I have spoken with President Trump many times and we are working at the intelligence level to exchange real, truthful information. Because Witkoff's statements are a major obstacle for us."

Zelenskyy met in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, who on March 27 will host delegations from the "coalition of the willing" -- a group of Ukraine's allies seeking to aid Kyiv and secure a lasting cease-fire with Russia.

"This is a decisive phase to put an end to the war of aggression," Macron said at a joint press conference with Zelenskyy on March 26.

Macron accused Russia of displaying a "desire for war" and insisted Moscow must accept the 30-day cease-fire "without preconditions."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will assess Moscow's conditions.

"We're going to evaluate that. Some of those conditions include sanctions that are not ours -- they belong to the European Union," Rubio said at a news conference in Jamaica on March 26.

Macron, however, said in Paris would not lift sanctions because it's "much too early" for that.

The State Department said Rubio spoke on March 26 with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot about ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

Rubio emphasized Trump's "determination to achieve, through negotiations, enduring peace, and stressed the United States will continue working with France towards this end," spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News on March 26 that he believed Trump "would not hesitate to tighten sanctions if it gives him an advantage in negotiations." He added that tightening or easing sanctions would depend on further actions by the Russian leadership.

Bessent also said the United States and Ukraine could sign a natural resources deal next week.

"We have handed over a completed document on economic partnership. It is currently being reviewed by the Ukrainians, and we hope that full discussions will begin next week and perhaps even signatures will be put in place," Bessent said.

The agreement was to be signed on February 28 during Zelenskyy's last visit to Washington, but the signing ceremony was postponed after a heated discussion between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-macron-ukraine- russia-coalition-willing/33361483.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.