Zelensky: High risk Russia could attack European countries

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists after a meeting with US President Donald Trump that there is a significant risk of Russia attacking a European country.

Zelensky said he believes it is important for Russian President Vladimir Putin to show tangible results of the war to his own population. He noted that Putin fears not Ukraine or the United States, but his own society, given that roughly 33,000 to 35,000 Russian soldiers are being lost each month while a million troops remain fighting on foreign soil without clear victories to show.

Undermining unity

According to Zelensky, this is precisely why Putin is seeking to break the unity among European countries and between Europe and the United States, in order to reduce support for Ukraine and increase pressure on it. One way to achieve this, the president suggested, is to attack another country entirely, sending the message that refusal to compromise on one front could trigger aggression elsewhere.

Zelensky warned this approach could take the form of drone incursions targeting Moldova, Romania, Poland's border areas, or German airports, adding that Putin would continue such actions going forward. He said the risk of attacks — whether by drones, missiles, or even ground forces — is very high, particularly for countries neighboring Russia or Belarus.

The Ukrainian president called on these nations to be prepared to respond and push back, stressing that if Russia is not met with resistance, it will keep advancing further.

Earlier, at a press conference following his talks with Trump, Zelensky also said he is ready to meet with Putin and that the US leader could help arrange a trilateral meeting.