Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Seeks Peace, Sees No Sign Of Compromise From Russia

Last Updated:February 14, 2026, 21:27 IST

Zelenskyy said the US had proposed a Free Economic Zone in parts of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, requiring Ukrainian forces to pull back.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that while Ukraine wants peace, it is not hearing any real willingness to compromise from Russia. “We want to hear something from them," he said.

Zelenskyy admitted he was feeling “a little bit" of pressure after US President Donald Trump urged him to move faster on peace talks.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy said the US had suggested creating a Free Economic Zone in parts of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, which would require Ukrainian forces to pull back.

But he rejected the idea, saying, “We can’t just withdraw 200,000 people," and questioned why Ukrainians should leave now when they had stayed throughout the war.

On the issue of holding fresh presidential elections in Ukraine, as proposed by the US, Zelenskyy said that if Washington insisted, the country would need at least two months of a ceasefire to prepare, after which “we will go for elections."

To loud applause, he added, “We will also give a ceasefire to the Russians if they do elections."

Looking ahead, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would support the peace process and hoped the US would back strong security guarantees. He also said he expected greater involvement from Europe, and stressed that moving closer to European Union membership remained a key goal.

At the same event, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that Russia is not winning the war and that its recent gains are “so small that it’s almost not relevant."

News world Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Seeks Peace, Sees No Sign Of Compromise From Russia

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