Zelensky: Peace must be permanent

A peace must be lasting, he wrote on Platform X. "Not like years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our east - part of Donbass - and (Kremlin chief Vladimir) Putin simply used this as a springboard for a new attack." Selensky also pointed out that the "security guarantees" that Ukraine had received in 1994 had not worked.

Crimea should not have been given up back then, Selensky emphasized - "just as the Ukrainians did not give up Kiev, Odessa or Kharkiv after 2022". Russia must end this war, which it started itself. "And I hope that our joint strength with America and our European friends will force Russia to make a real peace," wrote Zelensky, who says he is already in Washington. A meeting with US President Trump is planned there today, which will also be attended by European allies.