Defined security guarantees only path to stopping Ukraine war, Zelenskyy tells Sky News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged US President Donald Trump to take a “clear position” on a sanctions package for Russia and security guarantees for Ukraine to halt Vladimir Putin and end the war.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Zelenskyy said the only way for the fighting to stop was for defined security guarantees to first be put in place — a step he said could only come if Trump was bold.

He expressed hope that UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would press the issue during his state visit to Britain this week. “I very much hope he (Starmer) will be able to have a very specific discussion on the security guarantees of the US for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

“Before we end the war, I really want to have all the agreements in place. I want to… have a document that is supported by the US and all European partners. This is very important. To make this happen, we need a clear position of President Trump.”

Zelenskyy also called on Trump to take “strong personal steps” to “stop Putin,” after the former US president urged NATO allies to halt purchases of Russian oil and impose tariffs on China to pressure Moscow.

“I believe that the US is strong enough to take decisions of their own,” Zelenskyy said. “I believe Donald Trump can give us air defence systems in quantity and US has enough.”

Commenting on recent developments, including British fighter jets flying air defence missions over Poland following a Russian drone incursion, Zelenskyy said: “He's testing NATO. He wants to see what NATO is ready for, what they're capable of, both diplomatically and politically, and how the local population will respond to this. Also, in my opinion, the other message they are sending is, 'don't you dare to give Ukraine additional air defence systems, because you might need them yourself.'”

By Khagan Isayev