Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his call for the creation of a European army during his address at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

His comments emerge amid growing concerns about the dependability of U.S. support if Donald Trump were to return to the White House.

Zelensky emphasized that Europe needs to evaluate its future security independently of American support.

These remarks follow Trump's announcement of potential upcoming talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding peace negotiations, a development that has sparked unease among European leaders.

Zelensky said, "Let's be honest -- we cannot dismiss the possibility that America might refuse to support Europe on issues that endanger it," highlighting the necessity for a collaborative European military force.

The concept of a unified European military has been on the table for several years but remains unfulfilled in terms of actionable plans.

Zelensky stressed that Ukraine must be part of any discussions about its future, asserting, "No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine. No decisions about Europe without Europe."

He expressed concern that Russian strategies might seek to exploit Trump's influence, suggesting that Putin could use Trump to advance his own objectives.

Zelensky underscored the importance of strong security guarantees from both the United States and European allies to deter future Russian hostilities after a peace agreement.

According to Zelensky, "Putin cannot provide genuine security assurances, not only because he is deceitful but because Russia in its current state requires conflict to maintain power."

In response to Zelensky’s urgent call, European leaders voiced their commitment to upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that achieving lasting peace relies on supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted the necessity for Europe to adopt an independent approach to security issues, stating, "Europe urgently needs its own action plan concerning Ukraine and our security, or else other global players will shape our future. This plan must be formulated immediately. There’s no time to waste."

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte noted that discussions in Europe are progressing toward concrete security guarantee planning.

While U.S. officials have reiterated that Ukraine will not be abandoned after three years of conflict with Russia, mixed signals from Washington have created anxiety in Kyiv.

For example, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth indicated that Ukraine might not be able to rejoin NATO or fully reclaim its territory, raising concerns in Ukraine about the conditions of any potential peace deal.

In a bid to reinforce U.S. support, Kyiv has been negotiating access to its rare earth mineral deposits as part of its security talks, with Zelensky confirming these ongoing negotiations after his meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

As Zelensky navigates diplomatic discussions, the situation for Ukrainian forces is shifting on the battlefield.

The Russian military has claimed the capture of a village in eastern Donetsk, a vital area for linking key regional towns.

Despite advances in the region, Russian forces have suffered significant losses while continuing their steady progression in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a Russian drone strike on the Chernobyl nuclear site has raised alarms, even though radiation levels were reported to remain stable.

Zelensky remarked, "A country that conducts such attacks has no desire for peace. No. They do not want it. They are not preparing for dialogue."