Zelensky urges US to intensify pressure on Russia

Zelensky made the remarks in an interview with POLITICO at the Munich Security Conference, Ukrinform reports.

"Be honest, today only Ukraine [is] defending Europe. Today, only Europe gives money to Ukraine and helps Ukraine. Today, only [the] United States can stop Putin," he said.

He criticized the U.S. for trying to force the Ukrainians to concede territory in the Donbas region without demanding sacrifices from the Kremlin.

"What I see, they give more signals that Ukraine has to make compromises and not Russia. This is not [the] right position," he said.

He also stressed that Congress would need to backstop security guarantees, either with more money for Ukraine's postwar military or by sealing a treaty agreement.

"Security guarantees will work only after Congress will vote," he said.

The Ukrainian president pushed back on President Donald Trump's demand that Kyiv and Moscow wrap up a peace settlement by the summer. He said the Kremlin has strung the U.S. along in talks in an effort to normalize the relationship and ease sanctions.

"Until there is enough pressure," Zelensky said, "they [the Russians] play."

He applauded a NATO initiative to give Ukraine more U.S.-made weapons, but said it had not changed Putin's impression that Europe was weak. "Putin really doesn't respect Europe," Zelensky said, adding that the Russian leader's efforts to divide the continent have not been successful.

According to Zelensky, Putin has little time left.

"I'm younger than Putin – this is important," Zelensky said. "He doesn't have too much time."