On the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the war could be concluded this year, emphasizing the need for security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. Speaking at a high-profile summit in Kyiv attended by European leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO and the European Union as a means of ensuring lasting peace.

“We hope that we can finish the war this year,” Zelensky stated, acknowledging the immense hardship faced by the Ukrainian people. He stressed that joining NATO and the EU would significantly bolster Ukraine’s security and deter further Russian advances.

The Ukrainian leader also called for a full prisoner exchange as a potential first step toward a peace agreement. Since the beginning of the war, there have been 60 prisoner swaps between Ukraine and Russia, with thousands of Ukrainian soldiers still in Russian captivity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with Russian state television, indicated that Moscow was open to European involvement in peace talks but criticized previous European reluctance to engage. He defended recent U.S.-Russia negotiations held in Saudi Arabia, from which Ukraine and its European allies were excluded.

Putin also proposed deep cuts—up to 50%—in military spending between Russia and the United States, suggesting it could be part of a broader agreement. However, he dismissed Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and showed support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to the conflict, calling it “rational.”


Meanwhile, in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron displayed clear differences in their approach to Ukraine. Trump continued to push for a quick ceasefire, even suggesting a potential visit to Moscow to meet Putin once a deal is reached. Macron, however, emphasized a structured peace process with verified security guarantees.

“We want peace swiftly, but we don’t want an agreement that is weak,” Macron stated, advocating for European peacekeeping forces to be deployed after a deal is reached. Trump supported the concept, claiming that Putin had “no problem” with it.

Trump’s recent rhetoric has raised concerns among Ukraine’s allies, particularly after he labeled Zelensky a “dictator” and criticized his leadership. Additionally, negotiations over a proposed minerals revenue-sharing agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. have added further tensions. Zelensky rejected a U.S. demand for $500 billion in Ukrainian mineral resources as repayment for wartime aid, arguing that no such sum had been provided.

The Kyiv summit saw strong declarations of support from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Trudeau emphasized that “might no longer means right in this world,” while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen signaled openness to peacekeeping troop deployment in post-war Ukraine.

Von der Leyen projected that Ukraine could join the EU before 2030 if it maintains the pace of its reforms. The summit also set the stage for upcoming diplomatic engagements, including Macron’s meeting with Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Washington.

As Ukraine continues its struggle, the geopolitical landscape remains tense, with diverging views on how to bring about a lasting peace.