Zelenskyy says Europe’s influence must grow as US’ could diminish

Elena Teslova

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Europe’s influence in the world must grow as the US role could diminish.

Zelenskyy, at the Berlin Security conference in the German capital, urged the host country to take a greater role in European security.

“Too much depends on what Germany believes in and whom it believes in. The role of the United States in the world may become even smaller. Therefore, Europe’s role in the world must become even greater. And this is impossible without Germany,” he said.

He stressed the importance of US and European support for Ukraine, saying that American assistance had helped save lives and prevent further displacement, while European support had been essential for the country’s survival.

Zelenskyy also urged European cooperation to develop and protect satellite communication systems, including national alternatives to Starlink, a satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk.

“Because the key question is who controls the on and off buttons,” he said, adding that no country could independently address threats to the systems.

Zelenskyy later met German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and discussed joint efforts with the US to advance peace in Ukraine.

He said talks involving representatives of the US, NATO, Europe and Ukraine were scheduled to take place Wednesday in Brussels. Kyiv was also preparing for a meeting in the United Arab Emirates, he added, urging Russia to demonstrate a constructive approach.

Zelenskyy said Russian attacks Tuesday damaged energy facilities in Kyiv and five regions — Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Volyn and Cherkasy.