President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking with journalists on Wednesday, Aug. 20, outlined Ukraine’s firm stance on territories, NATO, sanctions, and new weapons while stressing that Moscow is “trying to invent a victory.”

Moscow is trying to invent a victory

The situation at the front is currently difficult, but not as bleak as Russian leader Vladimir Putin portrays, Zelensky told reporters.

“He (Putin) has many more people – a fact. Weapons – a fact. But his economy is crumbling – a fact,” Zelensky said.

Despite some production increases, Russia will not be able to sustain it at the necessary level, he argued: “I think that in a year it will have tangible problems; in two, they will be much bigger.”

Zelensky added that the Kremlin is aware of these risks and is already considering how to end the war. At the same time, Moscow is trying to invent a “victory” for itself, he said.

“I believe that our withdrawal from Donbas is something they invented for themselves as a victory, something they want to sell inside their state,” Zelensky said.

On NATO, he said that US policy on Ukraine’s membership had not changed, noting Washington remains opposed to Kyiv joining the Alliance but continues to back its path to the EU.

He added that guarantees “similar to Article 5” would only work if they were strong and credible, citing Israel as an example.

Zelensky also underlined NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s position that Russia has no right to veto Ukraine’s membership.

Meeting with Putin, sanctions, ceasefire

Kyiv is ready for any format of meetings with the Russian side if it helps end the war.

Answering a question about preparations for negotiations with Putin, Zelensky said:

“We need this meeting. If, in order to end the war, a meeting with the Russians is necessary – and then a trilateral meeting – we are ready for any configuration. We have taken a step toward it,” Zelensky said.

He added that the Russian side must show that “they really want to end the war, as they said.”

It is also important for US President Donald Trump to play a role in ending the war, Zelensky stressed.

“He needs to come out of this successfully. And this success depends on the justice of ending this war.”

Zelensky also addressed the issue of sanctions, calling secondary sanctions “a deadly force for Russia.”

“We understand that new tariffs President Trump may introduce on certain countries that maintain trade relations with Russia will also affect the Russian economy,” he said.

During the negotiations in the White House, his message to Trump was clear: “We are ready for a configuration of bilateral and trilateral meetings. And if the Russians are not ready for this – we ask for tariffs. We ask for additional sanctions, tariff steps from the US, because this will really work.”

A ceasefire in the Russian-Ukrainian War would be a good outcome of a bilateral meeting between him and Putin, Zelensky added.

“I believe that without agreements in a bilateral format, and without some kind of ceasefire, a trilateral format is almost impossible,” he said.

Zelensky told reporters that he had conveyed to Trump the need for a period of silence to work out a full plan for ending the war, noting that European leaders support Ukraine’s position.

As for the location, the president said it would be fair for the meeting to take place in neutral Europe, such as Austria or Switzerland. He also said he would agree to Turkey.

“For us, Turkey is a NATO country and part of Europe. And we are not against it. For me, a meeting without any special conditions is already a proactive step by Ukraine. But there can be no meeting in Moscow,” Zelensky said.

At the White House, he also asked Trump to press Hungary not to block Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, and said the US president promised his team would work on it.

“As far as I understand, the relevant signals from the White House will go to Budapest. As for Budapest as a platform, it seems to me today it is not realistic. Because there is unity among European countries in supporting Ukraine during the war. And let’s be honest: Budapest did not support us. I am not saying Orban’s policy was against Ukraine, but it was against supporting Ukraine,” Zelensky said.

He added that Hungary openly opposes Ukraine’s EU membership. But Kyiv needs to join the European bloc, he stressed, to secure guarantees within the EU as well.

The issue of territories – “Putin wants to sell us air”

Zelensky said that the issue of territories must be discussed directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, not at any other level.

“I explained to Trump why our territories are so important. And I said that Putin wants to sell us some ‘air’ – that he will not attack us, and in return, give us what you control. I think this is just his reproach. He understands that it will not be like that. Maybe he is counting on this, because he does not want to end the war. He is giving conditions in advance so that you cannot accept them,” Zelensky said.

He added that during the meeting with Trump, he emphasized the importance of Donbas and the eastern regions:

“I noted that if our military withdraws from this territory and it is occupied, then we will open the way to Kharkiv.”

He also showed Trump the roads leading to the Dnipro, Ukraine’s industrial center.

“If we are talking about withdrawing from the east, we cannot do this. The issue is not only in the Constitution, it is a question of the country’s survival – our strongest defensive lines, the distances to industrial centers. If Putin gets this, he will try to go further. Did President Trump agree? He understood,” Zelensky said.

The president added that in the Oval Office they also discussed Crimea, focusing on maps.

“I noted that this is the biggest problem. By the way, he [Trump] said that Ukraine’s withdrawal was, in his opinion, a big mistake. He noted that Crimea is the key to a full-scale war.”

According to Trump, if then-US President Barack Obama had not allowed Putin to seize Crimea and part of Donbas, the full-scale invasion would not have happened.

“I said that Putin militarized Crimea, prepared it for a southern operation as a springboard. The problem was that when Crimea was occupied, no one imposed strong sanctions on Russia that would have had a real impact. That is why real pressure and real security guarantees are very important,” Zelensky added.

Ukraine not ready to cross a number of red lines

Ukraine is not prepared to cross certain red lines when it comes to a potential “territorial exchange” with Russia, Zelensky told reporters.

Before discussing what Ukraine is ready for, it is necessary to determine what Moscow is ready for, Zelensky said.

“For almost four years of full-scale war, the Russians have occupied a third of the Donetsk region. And that’s why I explained to Trump that the stories about them occupying all of Donbas by the end of the year are just talk. They would need another four years to occupy Donbas,” Zelensky said.

As for the Sumy region, Zelensky is confident: the Russians will not hold it.

“And frankly, they will not be able to hold the border areas where they are now. In today’s realities, it’s a matter of time – just a few months – and they won’t be in Sumy region,” he added.

Zelensky also said he does not believe Russia will succeed in taking the Kharkiv region.

“And to talk about Mykolaiv region, that they are ready to give us the Kinburn Spit… They only need it to block the sea for us,” he added.

The president stressed once again that Ukraine does not legally recognize the occupation of any temporarily occupied territories.

China will not become a security guarantor

Zelensky said Ukraine does not consider China a possible security guarantor after the war.

“Why is China not in the guarantees? First, China did not help us stop this war from the beginning. Secondly, China helped Russia by opening the drone market,” he said.

He recalled that China was a signatory to the Budapest Memorandum but took no action when Russia occupied Crimea.

Ukraine needs security guarantees only from states that are ready to help in practice and have already shown support since Feb. 24, 2022, Zelensky added.

Elections in Ukraine

Zelensky said discussing elections during wartime is counterproductive and risks dividing society.

“I would be pleased if the elections had already taken place – to finish with this topic, because it gives nothing except quarrels, political appeals, and posters,” he said.

He emphasized that his main task is ending the war, not engaging in internal political debates.

“The main thing is that they give me the opportunity to end the war, and not split the state before that. This is the only request to all those who want to,” Zelensky said.

The Flamingo missile to go into mass production

The Flamingo long-range cruise missile has become a major success of Ukraine’s missile program and will soon go into mass production, Zelensky announced.

According to him, the missile has already been tested.

“And this is the most successful missile that we have so far. It flies 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) – that’s important,” the president said.

At the same time, he stressed that it is too early to share details, as Ukraine does not yet have the capacity to deploy them in large numbers.

“By December, we will have more of them. And by the end of December or in January –February, there should be mass production. We need to look at the success of the tests and at the financing of this program,” Zelensky added.

Drone deal with the US

Ukraine has offered the US a “drone” deal that would allow the production of about 10 million drones per year.

“Regarding drones: the drone deal that we prepared and proposed to the American side is for $50 billion over five years – 10 million drones per year. Such a big program. It will probably work after the war,” Zelensky said.

He added that Ukraine has also developed a plan to purchase American weapons worth $90 billion.

“Regarding the $90 billion for weapons purchases: I believe that a strong component of weapons has been written out that the Ukrainian army needs as part of security guarantees. This amount is fair,” Zelensky said.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine can significantly expand the use of drones at the front, but to increase production, more resources are required.

“The problem with drones remains. I believe this is something our partners need to actively get involved in. The Russians have increased the number of drones, while we have not, due to lack of funding – despite the fact that there are opportunities,” Zelensky said.