VOLODYMYR Zelensky has said his country’s freedom is “not for sale” as he insisted he won’t quit from office despite his White House bust-up.
The Ukrainian leader said his officials are now back in touch with President Trump’s administration after their seismic Oval Office showdown.
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He spoke after a day meeting European leaders and talks with Sir Keir Starmer over finding a long-term peace deal before jetting back to Ukraine.
He said: “To change me it will not be easy. You would need to prevent me from participating in elections and it will be a bit more difficult. You will need to negotiate with me.”
But he doubled down on a previous pledge that he would walk away from the role if he secured Nato membership – as his mission would have been “fulfilled”.
His warning shot about his future came after US National Security Adviser Mile Waltz said he may have to quit his post to get talks back on track.
Zelensky wouldn’t be drawn on reported proposals tonight that UK and France want a one-month truce in fighting between Ukraine and Russia.
He would only say: “I’m aware of everything.”
Regarding links with the White House following Friday’s debacle with President Trump, he would only say: “There is communication, not on my level”.
But he refused to apologise for the way the talks panned out with the US leader and his deputy JD Vance.
Alongside meetings with European leaders this weekend, Zelensky told The Sun he was “very grateful” for the support of the royal family.
He singled out King Charles in how he “helps Ukraine” since the country was invaded three years ago. He said: “We are very thankful for the Royal family and their support”.
Zelensky was speaking after talks at the London summit and his tea with the King in Sandringham.
But he said any security guarantees must give Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin “zero per cent of coming back again”.
He added that he hoped the guarantees will be spelled out and made public within weeks as he declared “a ceasefire is not enough”.
He suggested that without any guarantee it’s just a “trap”.
He added: “If we are talking about a ceasefire, this will be a failure for everyone.”
Zelensky said that no one will win from this when it was broken, saying Russian would be the ones to break it.
It comes as Britain and France are set to lead a new “coalition of the willing” to help defend Ukraine with jets and troops, Sir Keir Starmer has declared.
The PM warned Europe must step up and “do the heavy lifting” – while still scrambling for America’s “strong” backing.
Unveiling his battle plan for the war-torn country, the PM told a press conference: “This is not a moment for more talk. It’s time to act. Time to step up and lead, and to unite, around a new plan for a just and enduring peace.”
He unveiled a £1.6 billion finance deal to help Ukraine buy more than 5,000 missiles and vowed to keep the weapons flowing while ramping up economic pressure on Russia.
And he pledged to develop a “coalition of the willing” to defend any future peace deal.
He insisted the UK was ready to send “boots on the ground and planes in the air, alongside France and others.
Once the details are ironed out, he said he and Mr Macron will present the plan for peace to Trump, acting as a “bridge” between Washington and Kyiv.
Sir Keir added: “Not every nation will feel able to contribute but that can’t mean that we sit back.
“Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency.”
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