Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly dismissed calls from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing that peace cannot come without concrete security guarantees.
Zelensky argued that the ongoing war in Ukraine requires more than “just signing a piece of paper.” His comments came after a high-profile meeting in Paris on Saturday with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. Following the talks, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, urging for “an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to begin,” suggesting Ukraine is ready to “make a deal and end the madness.”
Contradicting Trump’s statement, Zelensky took to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, December 8, to underscore Ukraine’s stance. “A ceasefire without guarantees can be broken at any time,” he wrote. “To truly protect Ukrainians from further suffering, we need a reliable and enforceable peace—not empty promises or compromises that ignore the reality of occupation.”
Zelensky pointed out that millions of Ukrainians remain in territories under Russian control, firmly rejecting any notion of territorial concessions to achieve peace. He declared that “peace through strength” is the only viable path forward, calling for robust guarantees to ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and the security of its citizens. “This is what we discuss with all our partners—steps and measures that uphold the rights of a state and its people facing aggression,” he added.
The statement came after Trump once again claimed he could resolve the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of taking office. Trump has frequently criticized the current U.S. administration for its financial support of Ukraine, suggesting he might leverage aid to force a freeze in hostilities along existing battle lines.
However, Moscow has consistently dismissed such a freeze as unacceptable. Russian officials have maintained that any resolution must include Ukraine withdrawing its forces from territories Moscow claims as Russian, ensuring the rights of Russian-speaking communities, and adopting a neutral stance in global politics.
The contrasting positions between Trump’s ceasefire proposal and Zelensky’s insistence on lasting security highlight the deep complexities of ending the war—a conflict that continues to reshape global geopolitics.