#interview 2026

Christopher Miller in Kyiv

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia and Ukraine were at the “beginning of the end” of Europe’s biggest conflict since the second world war, but urged Washington to see through Vladimir Putin’s negotiating “games”.

In a wide-ranging FT interview on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian president warned that without firm western security guarantees Moscow would use a ceasefire to rebuild its forces for another assault.

Zelenskyy also urged the EU to stop prevaricating and to fix a date for Ukraine’s accession to the bloc, saying it should be as early as 2027.

“I want a date. I am asking for it,” he said. “Let us not allow the next leaders or the next generation to face a situation where Russia blocks Ukraine’s EU membership for 50 years.”

Speaking from his presidential office in Kyiv, Zelenskyy accused Russia’s leader of using overtures to Donald Trump to weaken Kyiv’s negotiating position. Asked how peace talks were progressing, he said the “Russians are playing games” and not serious about bringing the war to a close.

“I see it, because they are very poor actors. They are playing with Trump and playing with the entire world. That’s how it is,” said the former film star turned Ukrainian president. “Putin thinks he looks convincing and that he can be trusted. No — he is a bad actor.”

Earlier this month, Zelenskyy claimed Russian officials had dangled a package of economic co-operation deals with the US worth as much as $12tn, citing his intelligence services. He said the offer contained provisions “about Ukraine” that would potentially exploit natural resources in territories under Russian occupation.

He rejected the Russian president’s suggestions that Ukraine would use a temporary halt in fighting to regroup for an offensive. “It is demagoguery and lies,” he said. “Look at who benefits from such claims.” He added Moscow was mobilising 40,000 troops a month and losing 35,000. “A pause is needed by them no less than by us.”

“Ukraine needs a ceasefire — yesterday, today, tomorrow,” he said. “We don’t need a pause. We need the end of the war.”

Citing Ukrainian intelligence assessments, Zelenskyy said Russia’s grinding battlefield advances in 2025 cost “an average of 167 people per kilometre of occupied territory”.

“You can see immediately what they are occupying and what they are not. Where they claim to be holding positions, you can see they are not holding anything,” he said, noting the large contested areas of the frontline.

“On the contrary, we have advanced,” he added, referring to recent gains in contested areas on the south-eastern front that he said had been aided by a ban on the unauthorised use of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system by Russian forces.

Zelenksyy’s push for an EU accession timetable comes as peace talks confront contentious issues including the sequencing of a ceasefire, territorial control and security guarantees. Kyiv insists any halt in fighting must be accompanied by binding commitments from western partners to deter future Russian offensives.

He said the US is convinced Putin will stop his war if Zelenskyy hands over the eastern Donbas territory, an idea he said was short-sighted.

“Honestly, I do not believe that this is all that Russia demands. Our withdrawal from Donbas, and then the war will end,” he said. “Russia is Russia, and you know, you cannot trust them.”

While the war rages, Zelenskyy also called on western allies to fund and license arms production in Ukraine, saying Kyiv is close to mass-producing new missiles that have penetrated Russian air defences.

He confirmed that Ukrainian-made FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles successfully hit a major missile production plant on Saturday deep inside Russia.

He said the pressure Trump had put on Kyiv to make concessions for peace was much greater than that applied on Moscow. But he said he remained hopeful that his counterpart in Washington would come around.

“What costs the Russians dearly is stopping their shadow fleet, stopping their companies, their ability to trade, to export energy resources from Russia, stopping sanctions evasion,” Zelenskyy said, calling on Trump to squeeze sectors that fund the Kremlin’s war machine.

“I hope President Trump and the US will pressure Russia and stop Putin,” he said. “But I rely primarily on Ukrainian citizens, our army, our production.”

Zelenskyy reiterated past statements that Trump was pressing Kyiv to make concessions to end the war and warned that any ceasefire without binding security guarantees would carry “big risks”.

“The war could start again. A ceasefire could collapse,” he said. “We don’t need a pause. We need the end of the war.”

February 23, 2026 at 14.00

“Mr. President, since the beginning of the war, we tried to organize this interview. Probably dozens of different ways. And now, after almost four years, we are finally talking. Why did you agree now?

- Firstly, I want to say openly: I have always treated Belarus with great respect, to the Belarusian people, I have been to Belarus repeatedly. But, honestly, after the war... it wasn't just some kind of resentment. We stand on the threshold of understanding that not only Russia started a war, that Russia has an ally – Belarus. Thank God that we are talking about the regime of Lukashenko, we are not talking about the Belarusian people. But, nevertheless, when the missiles are flying, Belarusians must understand that the Ukrainians are dying, and for them Belarus at this moment is an ally of the aggressor, an ally of Russia.

Therefore, to be honest, it was not easy to see you. That's all. Because I am focused on the war and perceive Belarus through the way they talk about it in this regard, how Belarus itself speaks about itself, as Russia says about it. These are allied states, one of which is definitely fighting on our territory and kills our people with ours. And Belarus says that allegedly “we do not control them [Russians] and so on.

At some point, you realize that the Russian army, which is located on your territory, probably, does not control Belarus, but does not fully control. Why, let me explain now.

Now we see a new format of relations [between Belarus and the Russian Federation], when Belarus knows exactly what is happening on its territory. And it is impossible to say, as Lukashenko told me after the beginning of a full-scale invasion, that the missiles [to Ukraine] flew, but they “have been there for a long time, we have not controlled it, the launch is not controlled.” Now drone repeaters have appeared on the territory of Belarus, and now this new technique, which appeared there, helps the Russian Shahedam to hit our people, the civilian population and energy, because there is an adjustment thanks to these repeaters.

And the next step is to prepare a platform for the deployment of the “Oroshnik” (the missile system and the eponymous ballistic missile of medium range, which Russia strikes at Ukraine. – Approx. ed.).

These are all new steps, it is not about old actions that did not depend on Lukashenko, as he said about it. It's definitely up to him now. Coordination, repeaters, information, adjustment of the reactive "Shahedov" - all this definitely depends on the local [Belarusian] authorities.

Therefore, we are now in the moment when Belarusians must understand all risks. Russia has always wanted to drag Belarus into this war, so that the people of Belarus, the Belarusian military fought against the Ukrainians. You used to be embroiled by other things. For example, your factories – sorry that I say “your”, [we are talking about factories] of Belarus – produce artillery shells. And at the very beginning of the war, after Lukashenko was lied to me, that he did not control anything, all your [military] warehouses were taken to Russia. All artillery was taken to Russia. According to our data, maybe I’m wrong, but the Russians had to return it all. But they did not give anything to Belarus, they paid money, as far as I know. And the most important thing is that your country continues to produce artillery for Russians. That is, it suggests that they [the Belarusian authorities] are taking part [in the war].

And if the production of artillery can still be explained, saying: “Well, sorry, Ukrainians also buy it in a particular country.” Yes, but on the territory of other states there are no repeaters of our drones, who lead them [to attack] on certain territories. At least, nothing [from us] certainly over the territory of Belarus does not fly. “Oridnik, aimed at Belarus, is not on our territory, and we do not have other missiles aimed at you.

And I agreed [to the interview], although I do not have a lot of [free] time, because I believe that Belarus is at great risk. Lukashenko is pushing you to Putin. And now it is a question not only of the sovereignty of Belarus, but of security. You're being used. You have technology, equipment that threatens Ukraine, and today all of Europe. All Europe! I believe that these are high risks, and Belarusians should know about it.

- Do these repeaters and "Oridnik" Ukraine considers a legitimate military goal?

- I will not say in what way, but our guys were engaged in ensuring that three or four repeaters no longer work on the territory of Belarus. We simply have no other choice, otherwise attacks on our land will continue. And from this direction now flies much less, I want to tell you.

And “Orushnik” – in my opinion, NATO should look at it as a legitimate goal. Well, we will observe, assess this threat.

I'm just saying that Lukashenka makes a big mistake. It’s not just a question in the “Hands.” Everyone sees that they are making a big show from him now. They still [in Belarus] did not bring the whole complex, but only the appropriate machines, but already represent everything as if [everything there is]. Frightening Europe. But Lukashenko is played in vain, because after these steps, of course, without asking him, the Russians will bring Orshnik to the territory of your state.

Another story – I know that they [Lukashenko and Putin] talk about joint military exercises on the territory of Belarus. We’ll see how big they really are. When they were last mass, you remember, the offensive on the territory of Ukraine began (we are talking about the exercises “Union Resolve” in February 2022, which began a full-scale invasion of Russia. – Approx. ed.). Therefore, all these are great risks for Ukraine is for sure. And I think there are big risks for Belarusians.

- At the beginning of the full-scale war, in 2022, Russian troops were flowing to Ukraine, planes took off, missiles were launched. However, you did not hit military targets in Belarus. Why?

“Lukashenko, in response to my words, that they are aggressors and allies [of Russia] and are drawn into the war, because missiles flew from your territory and the troops were sent, he told me on the phone that he did not control this situation and said: “Whis, you can answer us, hit Mozyr, [there is a refiner] plant there.” With our team, we discussed this – everyone wanted to answer. But, in my opinion, Putin only expected that – that’s what we were hitting strikes at the time. Then he really wanted that from this direction the Belarusians could come in with their troops. We are not saying that [the Armed Forces of Belarus] had great forces or capabilities, but nevertheless. We should have thought about how to defend ourselves on this side.

The Russians drew Belarus into the war for only one reason. When they pressed on us in the east and there was the main concentration of their troops, they wanted to stretch our forces [on the front line]. And one of the ideas was that the Belarusians began to enter [the territory of Ukraine], frighten us. In this case, of course, we would have to react and transfer some part of the troops. They would weaken the east.

Now he [Putin] just uses this territory. Well, Lukashenko – I don’t know if it can be called a dead end, because he does not control anything or provides an opportunity for it. It seems to him that his, let’s say, a new stage of relations with the Americans gives him some kind of inviolability there, you know. No.

First, he has no immunity in his country, and the people must understand that he is drawn into war. Secondly, the Americans do what they need – get certain political prisoners. Thank goodness people are alive and free. I don’t know the details about these people, but the fact that they’re out of prisons is positive. Americans do that. Under what conditions [they communicate] with Lukashenko – frankly, unfortunately, if this is solely due to the lifting of certain sanctions or intentions [to remove them], well, you can not just forgive, in my opinion.

But these are the fantasies of Lukashenko that they will help him if he continues to get involved in this war. Moreover, now is not the first year of the war, and it is technological. We do not use our drones against Belarus, because we are not at war with your country – I will emphasize this again. We are not in the first year of the war, and we do not need to use our manpower and our military. We can manage many things from the territory of Kiev. And therefore, I believe that he still needs to “come to the tami”, as they say in Ukraine, sober up, not to get involved in the war. “Oshnik” for us is an escalation of already difficult relations with Belarus.

- You imposed personal sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko, talked with political prisoners expelled to Ukraine, appealed to Belarusians and warned about the involvement of our country in the war. You even said that Spitz Lukashenko has more rights than the Belarusian people. Previously, there was no such attention to Belarus - as well as an official meeting with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. Didn't you do this so as not to provoke Lukashenko and not to cross certain "red lines"?

- I believe that now he provokes us [to these steps]. As for the sanctions [against Lukashenko] – I have been approached by Europeans, who imposed restrictions, many other countries. We had our own red lines about it. We are now demonstrating political steps our attitude to the fact that he is drawn into the war and helps Putin. But these are exclusively political or economic steps that do not concern, by the way, the finances of ordinary Belarusians. It’s just about this person.

But, nevertheless, he must understand this: we are watching, the Europeans turn to us, we will continue the appropriate policy if Lukashenko does not come to its senses and does not stop.

- Who passed about the shadow, commenting on the next statement of Alexander Lukashenko to Ukraine, you said: “He will still pay for what he did, namely, to allow an offensive from his territory. No one will forget it.” By imposing personal sanctions against the Belarusian politician, you in your telegram channel listed the forms of support that official Minsk provides to Russia in this war, and ended the post with the words: “For this there will be special consequences.” My question is, what?

Sanctions policy is the first step, as I said. We will develop and are now working on the legal basis for its continuation. It will concern not only Lukashenka. We are talking about his entourage, about his sons and so on. And another story, as I said: we will follow all the military assistance that it gives [Russia].

We did not raise Lukashenko’s question with the American side, because we saw that the Americans were determined to find communication with him, to reach the result diplomatically. We will be on this track now and we will talk with the United States that it cannot be that it supports the Russian regime – it supports war, not just its geopolitics. It helps kill civilians. We have evidence, we have all this on the maps, everything is recorded on video and so on: as from the territory of Belarus, thanks to the relays, the Shaheds came in. It’s a crime because they helped the aggressor is a fact. After these strikes, civilians were killed. That is, it is a crime for us. And now we will deal with the legal component of these crimes.

- Will a criminal case against Olganizen Lukashenko be initiated in Ukraine?

This is a question for other departments. I will not talk about it yet, but all relevant bodies will also be engaged in this direction.

- I want to return to what you said about the talks between Alexander Lukashenko and the United States. Are you against it?

“No, I am not against America’s negotiations with Lukashenko. I certainly do not support the lifting of sanctions against him. I don't think the war is over. Sanctions were imposed because of illegitimate elections in Belarus [in 2020]. But these are the issues of the countries that imposed sanctions. We then supported the entire civilized world and the people of Belarus and did not support Lukashenko at that time - this is the first reason [why to lift the sanctions incorrectly].

And the second reason, which concerns exclusively Ukraine: sanctions were imposed against the economy of Lukashenko due to the fact that he is an accomplice of aggression against our country. We have always been very careful in the UN, in the geopolitical direction. When certain resolutions were raised, we did not usually talk about aggression [from] Belarus. We never allowed ourselves this, because we believe that okay: there are questions [touching] Lukashenko, there are issues [touch] Belarus, there are issues [touch] the Belarusian people.

Some Russians ask, “What’s the difference? Why are we guilty in Russia that Putin has started a war and there are no Belarusians?” Because Lukashenka did not start the war. Putin started the war. Lukashenko is an accomplice. But there are no Belarusian people, officially the Belarusian army on the territory of Ukraine. There is an army of Russia. And therefore, Russians who pay taxes and thereby support the army go into it on mobilization, are direct criminals. And Lukashenko is an accomplice – but not yet the Belarusian people.

Why “proportion”? Because, once again, Belarusians are being dragged into this war. You can't let that happen.

Therefore, [I hold] and intensive meetings, and conversations with representatives of the opposition forces, with journalists. These are not signals, no matter how Lukashenko interprets it, that Ukraine wants to fight Belarus. No, we want Belarus not to fight against us. We do not measure strength, nothing. We just think it’s a big mistake. A huge terrible mistake is [what] the Russians did. And this [toang of Belarus] will also be a huge terrible mistake. That's what we're talking about.

Therefore, I use all channels to convey this information to Belarusians - peaceful people, calm people.

- At the end of January, speaking in Vilnius, you said: "The Belarusians' uprising should have won in 2020 - so that there was no threat from there today. Europe and the world had to support the rebellious people – and history would be safer.” Do you think that if the protests won in 2020, Putin would just come with the army to Belarus and do exactly the same thing that is doing to Ukraine now?

- I don't know... I can't tell you what would have happened. But you can't let you give your freedom. That's all. And especially you can not give someone the right to sell your freedom.

Look, it's a choice of Belarusians. I was just talking about the military track, because I think it's very scary, it's a tragedy. Because we're in war, but we didn't choose her. When the man came to us, began to kill us. And now a man lacks strength.

10 thousand North Koreans are now on the territory of Russia [for the war with Ukraine]. He [Putin] lacks people. He does not want to mobilize Muscovites and St. Petersburgers. Well, he just doesn't want to. Basically, he takes people from villages, poor people who will not even be remembered. That's what he's doing. He negotiates with others for money.

And I think he's pulling out Belarusians. Retracts – but this does not mean that Belarusian soldiers, military, border guards will come to our territory today. As I said, now another war can be drawn technologically. It involves placing its auxiliary technical forces on your territory. [And therefore] Lukashenko can no longer say: “I did not control [the missiles], it was here before, and therefore it flew.” But there were no such drones as they now did not exist before the war, there were no such repeaters as they used, no “Oryushnik” physically on the territory of Belarus. And he can't just show up. That's what I'm talking about. I'm sorry that so many times [I repeat myself]. You know, I feel the risk. I feel it.

“In our country right now, hundreds, if not thousands, of Belarusians and Belarusians are in prison for helping Ukraine: someone fought on your side, someone guerrilla on the railroad, someone tracked the movement of Russian troops. Is Kiev doing something to get these people out? Do you see that there is such a problem?

- We see. But I want to tell you: in my opinion, first of all, Belarusians have to do something to free these people. I do not shift the appropriate steps to anyone, but about seven thousand Ukrainians are now in prisons in Russia. I do not believe that Russian prisons are in any way different from the prisons of Belarus. I think these are the same regimes with hatred of people. The only difference is that Belarusians are sitting in Belarus, and Ukrainians are sitting in Russia. And they [the Russians], I think, are more cruel to Ukrainians than to [seat] political prisoners who are citizens of other countries. I think so, because we see the consequences on the bodies of our prisoners of war, we see their injuries, traces of torture.

It’s not easy to free people. We have to negotiate everything. About Lukashenko – we can negotiate with the Americans [for help in liberation], we are ready to help, we helped. When the US was negotiating with Lukashenko about the release of [parts of political prisoners], we provided our territory, gave transport, medical care for those Belarusian prisoners who were released now (speech released on December 13, 2025. We took them on our territory. And we are ready to continue this, we will provide the Belarusian prisoners with any assistance that is in our power. But it is very difficult to get out of prisons.

I specifically gave an example with our Ukrainian citizens, who are a priority for me as president. I think you understand that. And this is very important: you always have to change someone for someone. To free Belarusians, you need to find something to change.

- There are Belarusians who fought on the side of Russia and are now in captivity in Ukraine.

- We are changing prisoners of war to prisoners of war. I want to give you an example: we were approached by several Asian countries (I think you understand which) – we took captive their people. I can't change their military to any military, no matter how they ask me. I can change their military, who fought and killed Ukrainians, only to Ukrainian citizens who are in captivity in Russia. The Chinese can take our captives from the Russian Federation, and I will give them the Chinese. I can only change for citizens of Ukraine.

I will tell you frankly: we had guys from Belarus who changed their citizenship, and they are citizens of Ukraine – and they are the same attitude to the Ukrainians who were born Ukrainians. We change all citizens of Ukraine first. Well, just a very large number of military - more than 6 thousand [in Russian captivity]. I think you understand that.

You said, “Everything needs to be negotiated.” If Belarusians in prisons could be released, but would need to talk to Lukashenko, would you?

First, I talked to him during the war. I said it: he called me, he wanted to talk. We didn’t have the nicest conversation, but it was nonetheless. Secondly, today we have the opportunity to contact at the intelligence level and raise relevant issues. These questions were raised with the Americans. This is what I said: we took part in the fact that political prisoners of Belarusian came out. I stress once again, we will continue to work in this direction.

- You yourself reminded of your conversation with Lukashenko at the beginning of a full-scale war. You said he apologized to you. Later, Belarusian propaganda claimed that there was no apology, and the conversation itself allegedly took place solely due to the emotional reaction of his youngest son, who had your personal contact on his phone. How did this conversation really happen and what role did Nikolai Lukashenko play in it?

- It's some kind of phantasmagoria, to be honest. First: you still need to remember what phone he [Alexander Lukashenko] called - it is unlikely that my phone. But, nevertheless, I talked to him. Second, he apologized, and he was very afraid that we would strike [in response]. And he said, "Well, let's put on the factory," because he didn't know what we could do. And I think that he realized that we were “not finished off” in the first day – our people did not kill us, did not kill our army and did not kill me personally. And when he realized that, he began to look for an opportunity to talk to me. He was looking, I didn't want to. I didn't immediately react, I didn't want to talk, I was angry about him. Well, in principle, we had a conversation with him.

Belarusian propaganda is propaganda. And I have witnesses to this conversation, and if necessary, then I think you can even read this conversation.

“We wrote to your Office’s adviser Mikhail Podolyak and asked if there was a recording of the conversation, he said, “No comment.”

- Podolyak, maybe there is something, maybe he's overheard something there (laughs).

- And Nikolay Lukashenko has nothing to do with this conversation?

- No, no. I only know about Kola Lukashenko that he is Kolya Lukashenko. I don't know anything else about this guy.

- How was your meeting with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya?

- It was a good meeting. But we're not the first one.

Officially, the first one.

- Well, you can say so, probably in this format it was the first conversation. Although I met her, I think, before a full-scale invasion. We had such a meeting on the sidelines of the summit, yes. I think it was Lithuania. Oh, I'm sorry, I don't remember. But I have met several times at different international venues.

But such a bilateral meeting is officially the first. Good meeting, we talked normally. It’s very fun to talk to Belarusians — I [at moments like such] I think how Belarusians are fun to talk to Ukrainians. We speak different languages, but we understand. And that's very fun. Well, really, it's very cool.

For example, when you talked so before with the Russians ... I had a story at the beginning of the summit [in the Normandy format with Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron] in December 2019. I remember, our official part began: I spoke Ukrainian, Putin spoke Russian, Emmanuel spoke French and Merkel spoke German. So when they said, it's okay. When I started in Ukrainian during my official speech, the entire Russian delegation of the basement – you know, so with the sound – [to show] that they were unpleasant, that I can speak Russian with them.

Although in principle with the Russians, too, we can talk, because we should all understand and respect each other. But, you see, with Belarusians very, very pleasant and very simple. There's no problem. Zero.

And we talked the same with Svetlana. I believe that we need to strengthen contacts with Belarus. With Svetlana, with journalists, as with you today. Thanks for this conversation. In my opinion, we need to communicate more. I agree with her idea that there should be a Ukrainian special representative for Belarus - to contact Svetlana, with her people, with other Belarusians who are not in the country for obvious reasons. And that's why I told her I'd be working on it. We'll pick up a man, I promised her.

How do you see the future of Belarus and Ukraine?

I believe that the best is the member countries of the European Union. I do not know whether this will support the Belarusian people, but from the point of view of geopolitics and independence, in my opinion, it is right. From the point of view of the economy ... The fact that in Belarus people are smart, I am sure. I just think that the anti-European propaganda that has been conducted in your country for many years, brings one thing - there will be restrictions in the development of Belarus, in business, prices will be only high, salaries will be small, you will be poor. But, in my opinion, it is just propaganda. [A better future] to be in the European Union. But this will certainly be the choice of Belarusians.

What's more important? These are strong relations between the two independent countries – Ukraine and Belarus. This can be developed, I believe, if there will be a leadership that will give freedom to Belarusians, which will respect the independence of Ukraine. We are sure to respect the independence of Belarus. I think that's the best thing that might be. Peaceful relations when we respect each other’s sovereignty. And the rockets do not fly from one country to another.

- Please continue: Belarusians are...

- It's complicated now. It's very hard to say. I'm sorry, but it is. War. Before the war, it was friends, neighbors, like us... and now war before all these words. That's why there are three points. War is the three points. And I would very much like the war to end and probably something has changed in relations between our countries. After all, the Belarusian people did not start a war against Ukraine. I think this is the wisest choice and status in which the Belarusian must remain.