Zelensky Demands Security Guarantees Before Russia Talks in Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland – As a Ukrainian delegation travels to Geneva for a new round of negotiations with representatives from the United States and Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a stark warning, emphasizing the need for clear security guarantees before any discussion of potential compromises with Moscow. Zelenskyy’s statements, delivered via a series of posts on social media, underscore a growing distrust of international assurances following past experiences, particularly the Budapest Memorandum.

“When you want to get compromises from people who are under attacks and who are not the aggressors – what do you give them in exchange?” Zelenskyy wrote, recalling Ukraine’s decision to relinquish its nuclear arsenal and other military equipment in exchange for guarantees of sovereignty and independence. we don’t have these weapons and we don’t have security guarantees. Nobody saved our independence, he stated, highlighting the widespread belief among Ukrainians that Russia could come back.

According to Zelenskyy, the central question for the Ukrainian population is not whether Russia will return, but what will happen when it does. Ukrainians want to understand what the price is and what concrete security guarantees are being proposed by the United States and its European allies. This demand for clarity comes as the trilateral talks are set to begin on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with the aim of finding a path towards ending Europe’s largest conflict since 1945.

Zelenskyy revealed that American partners have raised the possibility of a territorial exchange as a precondition for security guarantees. I think first come the security guarantees, he said, asserting that Kyiv is not prepared to accept a compromise that would allow Moscow to quickly recover and come back and occupy Ukrainian territory. He believes that a document formalizing security guarantees for Ukraine, approved by the U.S. Congress, would send a strong signal to the population about the enduring support of the United States and Europe in the event of renewed Russian aggression.

In a separate post, the Ukrainian President warned that allowing the aggressor to retain territorial gains would be a big mistake, arguing that such an approach would risk encouraging further Russian offensives in the future. He suggested that many leaders have erred by allowing an aggressive country like Russia to encroach upon their territory. Zelenskyy estimated that, without a firm response, Moscow could rebuild its military capabilities within a few years. In five years, it will have rebuilt its forces, he stated. For Zelenskyy, any resolution to the conflict must avoid creating the conditions for a new Russian aggression in the medium term.

Beyond security guarantees, Zelenskyy also called for total sanctions against Russia’s energy sector, praising the measures taken by U.S. President Donald Trump against Lukoil and Rosneft. However, he argued that Washington could extend these measures to encompass the entire energy sector, including nuclear energy, which he believes would send a serious signal to Europeans.

Zelenskyy added that while the European Union has already implemented numerous measures against Moscow, it has yet to sanction the Russian nuclear industry or the state-owned corporation Rosatom, nor has it targeted officials and their relatives who he alleges benefit from revenues in Europe and the United States. He claimed that some of these relatives live, study, or own property in the West thanks to profits from the Russian energy sector, calling on them to return to Russia.

These statements come after Zelenskyy voiced his concerns on Saturday, February 14, 2026, that the United States too often asks Ukraine, not Russia, for concessions, ahead of the Geneva talks. He expressed hope that the U.S.-brokered peace talks would be substantive, but reiterated his frustration with the perceived imbalance in negotiations. The upcoming discussions represent a critical juncture in the nearly four-year-long conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The situation remains fluid, with both sides entrenched in their positions. Drone strikes on both Ukrainian and Russian territory on Saturday, February 14, 2026, served as a reminder of the ongoing violence and the challenges facing negotiators. The outcome of the Geneva talks will likely have significant implications for the future of Ukraine, Russia, and the broader European security landscape.