Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed confidence about the possibility of a peace deal with Russia, stressing that international pressure on Moscow is showing results. He said that sanctions and other measures are forcing Russia to reconsider its position on the war.
His remarks came after the Coalition of the Willing meeting, which brought together several European nations, along with Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. This was the largest gathering so far focused on the Russia-Ukraine war.
Zelenskyy Says Sanctions Are Working
Zelenskyy shared his views in a detailed post on X, formerly Twitter.
“Pressure is working—the situation is becoming more difficult both for the Russian economy and for those who trade with Russia. We will continue along this line,” he wrote.
He added that new measures are being planned to intensify this pressure. “Today, we spoke about new sanctions, secondary sanctions, and special trade tariffs that can help,” Zelenskyy said.
We are now at a special moment and special negotiations. Today, we had a meeting of the countries participating in the Coalition of the Willing—all of free Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand—the largest meeting so far in terms of the number of participating… pic.twitter.com/vLZdTRDUIW
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 4, 2025
Strong Army Central to Ukraine's Security
The Ukrainian president underlined that a powerful military remains crucial for Ukraine’s long-term safety.
“A strong Ukrainian army is and will remain the central element of security guarantees,” he stated.
Zelenskyy explained that building and maintaining this strength requires consistent support. “It is about the capabilities of our army—financing, weapons, and defence production,” he said.
He stressed that this effort must continue well into the future. “We are working to ensure all of this, and it must be in place a year from now, five years from now, and ten years from now—both in the current conditions of war and to guarantee security afterwards,” he added.
Global Backing for Ukraine
During the meeting, 26 out of 35 nations agreed to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. Some countries even pledged to deploy troops in the war-hit nation to help maintain stability.
Zelenskyy also highlighted the vital role of the United States. “It is important that America is with us,” he wrote.
He mentioned ongoing cooperation with Washington, including programs like PURL, which allow Ukraine to purchase American weapons. “The United States’ readiness to participate in security guarantees long-term is extremely important,” he noted.
Direct Talks With Trump
In a separate post, Zelenskyy revealed that he had a “detailed conversation” with US President Donald Trump following the Paris meeting.
“First and foremost, we talked about how to push the situation toward real peace,” Zelenskyy wrote.
He explained that their discussion focused on increasing pressure on Russia, especially through economic means. “The key to peace is depriving Russia’s war machine of money, depriving it of resources,” he stated.
Zelenskyy also urged stronger protection for Ukraine’s skies. “Russian missiles and drones must not take lives. Ukraine has proposed a format for protecting our skies for the US to consider,” he added.
He thanked Trump for his continued support and confirmed that they agreed to stay in close contact.
A long and very detailed conversation with President Trump @POTUS. We spoke after today’s meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris. European leaders also participated on the call.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 4, 2025
First and foremost, we talked about how to push the situation toward real peace. We… pic.twitter.com/J1qoYRho28
The Road Ahead
While Zelenskyy remains hopeful, he acknowledged that the coming weeks will be crucial. Both Russia and the US are expected to respond to the outcomes of the Paris meeting.
For now, Ukraine’s strategy rests on maintaining international pressure, strengthening its military, and securing lasting commitments from its allies.