Zelenskyy Urges 'Resilience' Ahead Of European Defense Talks

According to RFE/RL, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s partners to be “at least as resilient as we are” in the face of conditions Russia has placed on the implementation of a Black Sea cease-fire agreement.

Zelenskyy, speaking to journalists in Paris ahead of a meeting of European leaders on March 27, said he had agreed to proceed with cease-fire talks in Saudi Arabia to ensure a resumption of US aid and intelligence sharing.

The White House said the talks resulted in an agreement "to develop measures for implementing" recent commitments to halt strikes on energy facilities and a cease-fire in the Black Sea.

But Russia is demanding a number of conditions be met, including an easing of sanctions, in exchange for adhering to the agreement.

"They are posing conditions on sanctions to the American side. If America stands strong...we are standing on our own land and are defending ourselves," Zelenskyy said.

"We have shown our resilience. And now it is very important for our partners to be at least as resilient as we are, though they have more capabilities," he told the journalists.

Asked whether he believed the Americans would remain strong, he answered, "I hope so. God bless they will."

Zelenskyy also said that pro-Kremlin comments indicated that some on the US side had become "influenced" by Russian narratives of the conflict, weakening pressure on Russia.

"We cannot agree with these narratives. We are fighting for ourselves, and we will fight against these narratives wherever they appear because there is simply no other way," he said.

He cited comments by US envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who he said "often repeats Kremlin narratives."

"I have spoken with President Trump many times and we are working at the intelligence level to exchange real, truthful information. Because Witkoff's statements are a major obstacle for us."