In an interview with NBC News “Meet the Press”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy exposed his vision of ending war in his country in collaboration with President Donald Trump, making it clear that he would never accept a peace deal that would negotiate US and Russia without Ukraine on the table.

“I will never accept any decision between the United States and Russia for Ukraine, never“, Zelenski told the Meet the Press Coordinator, Kristen Welker on Friday in Munich, Germany. “This is the War of Ukraine, against us and concerns our own human losses“

Efforts to end the war in Ukraine have been at the center this week, as members of the Trump government, several Republican party senators, European leaders and Zelenski gathered in Germany for the Munich security conference. In the interview, Zelenski talked about what Trump brings to the table in talks about ending war, about his views on the future of NATO, and how Russia is a threat to countries beyond Ukraine, what would he say to Russian President Vladimir Putin if they meet face to face and much more.

NATO’s future

As he talked about Ukraine and Russia’s ability to launch negotiations to end the war, Zelenski called on European allies to participate in the negotiating table, warning what could happen to NATO if Russia does not stop US retire from the alliance.

Referring to the information shared by Ukraine with the allies about the ongoing military exercises of the Russian army in Belarus, Zelenski warned of the prospect of a larger Russian invasion in Europe already this summer.

“Knowing that he failed to understand us, we do not know where he will go. There are risks that he can turn to Poland and Lithuania, because we believe that Putin will war against NATOO, Zelenski told Ukrainians, one of the few times he chose to use his mother tongue.

In English, Zelenskyy reiterated his message to Vice President JD Vance, with whom he met earlier on Friday in Munich, saying that if the US left NATO, “This will be the destruction of NATO” Added that NATO European members do not have the military capacity to defend without the US

“They will start from those countries… Little countries in the USSR, in the Soviet Union“, Said Zelenski. “But Europe will not answer, because it has no way to start defending it. Each country defends itself“

He added that he could not predict how many parts of Europe would seek to understand Putin, but that the “chance” of war would always hang over the continent.

Zelenski’s comments come as the Trump government described this week its own goals for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, with Trump revealing on Wednesday that she had spoken to Putin by phone.

“As we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in war with Russia/Ukraine“, Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We agreed to work together, including the visit to each other’s nation. We also agreed to start our respective groups immediately negotiations“

During Friday’s interview, Zelenski thanked Trump and other American leaders for their “support” in Ukraine, but added that there was no “No leader in the world who can really make a deal with Putin without us“

However, the Ukrainian leader credits to Trump that he triggered fear of Putin, which could eventually lead to substantial peace talks between the two nations.

“[Ο Πούτιν] does not want any peace“, Said Zelenski. “But I think he’s really a little scared to President Trump, and I think the president has this opportunity and he is strong, and I think he can really push Putin into peace negotiations“

However, Zelenski begged Trump to approach his talks with Putin and other Russian leaders, while maintaining faith in Ukraine. He stressed in the interview that it would be “very difficult” for Ukraine to survive without US military assistance.

“I wanted Ukraine to be a priority for Trump, and not Russia. And I hope we are more important“The Ukrainian president said. “We are not as big as Russia, but I think Ukraine is strategically more important to the United States, because we are really partners, allies and sharing common values“

“I trust President Trump because he is the president of the United States because your people, your people voted for him and I respect their choice“, Said Zelenski elsewhere in the interview.

He also warned that no one, including Trump, should trust Putin’s words.

“Don’t trust Putin. Don’t only trust words for a ceasefire of fire“, The Ukrainian president said, citing his own experience for a peace agreement with Russia in 2019 before the deal collapses.

Asked what he would say to Putin if the two met for peace talks, Zelenski called the Russian leader “killer” and “terrorist”.

“He is a murderer and will never change“, Said Zelenski. “And that’s why it’s a dialogue with a terrorist, a dialogue with a killer. I do not have such power, enough power to throw him out. So I have to talk about it. So our allies can give me such power to repel him“

Ukraine border

Zelenski also responded to many places set by Trump and Defense Minister Pete Hegschet this week, with Hegschez saying it is “unrealistic” for Ukraine waiting to take back all the ground that Russia has occupied from 2014.

“We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine border before 2014 is an unrealistic target“, Hegschez said during a speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday.

Zelenski told Welker on Friday that Ukrainian law is preventing the nation from acknowledging that Russia has a former Ukrainian land.

The Ukrainian president admitted that he would be willing to discuss the concession of the occupied territories as part of a diplomatic agreement where Ukraine could join NATO.

“Yes, we have to return them diplomatically. Yes, we can. If we are in NATO, it is understandable why diplomatically, it is very understandable“, Said Zelenski, adding that the priority is” of course not to lose people “.

In the future, he added, Ukraine would look for a “good way, diplomatic” way to regain territorial losses, but “the people are the most important in this case”.

Zelenski also said he still believes that Ukraine is likely to win the war militarily.

On Friday, Zelenski also spoke of a possible deal with the US and Ukraine about the Rare Earths of Eastern Europe.

On Friday, Zelenski also spoke of a possible deal with the US and Ukraine about the Rare Earths of Eastern Europe.

“We looked at what America is importing, what rare land, what America is introducing for its industry. And when we got titanium – this is an example, titanium – we say we have titanium in Ukraine, and these are accurate information. And is enough for industry for 40 years“, Said Zelenskyy.

The Trump government argued the idea that the US holds 50% of Ukrainian Rare Lands in exchange for the military aid that the US has sent there since 2022. But Zelenski was clear that any Ukrainian minerals agreement must be accompanied by US security guarantees

“Help us defend it and we will get money from it together“, Said Zelenski.

“If we are not given security guarantees by the United States, I believe that the financial treaty will not work. Everything must be fair“, Zelenski continued.