Upon returning from the United States without securing long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, Ukraine’s president has called on allies not to appease Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington following weeks of requests for these weapons, aiming to leverage Donald Trump’s increasing dissatisfaction with Vladimir Putin after their Alaska summit failed to advance peace efforts.
However, Zelenskyy departed without the arms as Trump shifted focus to new diplomacy following the recent Gaza peace agreement. In a social media post, Zelenskyy stated, “Ukraine will never reward terrorists for their crimes, and we expect our partners to stand by this principle.” He urged European and American allies to take firm action and proposed another meeting of the Europe-led “coalition of the willing.”
Trump has shown more optimism about reaching a deal after a lengthy phone call with Putin on Thursday, where they agreed to meet soon in Budapest. After hosting Zelenskyy at the White House, Trump described their discussions as “very interesting and cordial,” adding that he emphasized to both leaders the need to end the violence and strike a deal.
In recent weeks, Moscow has escalated attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, disrupting heating and electricity for thousands as winter sets in. Zelenskyy reported that Russia has launched over 3,270 attack drones, 1,370 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine this week alone. On Sunday, Kyiv confirmed two deaths and more than a dozen injuries in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine has responded by stepping up strikes on Russia’s western border regions and its oil and gas facilities. A drone attack on Sunday halted operations at a Gazprom plant in the Orenburg region, which processes supplies from the Karachaganak field in Kazakhstan. Western energy companies, including Shell, Eni, and Chevron, hold a majority stake in this field.
Meanwhile, the Russian military announced the capture of two villages in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions on Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Zelenskyys call for allies to avoid appeasing Russia with clear and concise answers
Basic Understanding Context
1 What is the main issue here
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging Western countries not to give in to Russias demands after Ukraine was unable to get certain longrange missiles from the United States
2 What missiles is Zelenskyy referring to
He is primarily referring to the ATACMS which are longrange missiles that could strike targets deep behind Russian lines disrupting their supply lines and command centers
3 Why didnt the US provide these missiles
The US administration has been cautious citing concerns about escalating the conflict further and potentially provoking a wider war with Russia There are also worries about depleting US military stockpiles
4 What does appeasing Russia mean in this context
It means giving Russia concessions or backing down from supporting Ukraine fully in the hope that it will satisfy Russia and lead to peace Zelenskyy argues that this strategy has historically failed with aggressive regimes and will only encourage more Russian aggression
Strategic Political Implications
5 Why is Zelenskyy so against appeasement
He believes that any peace deal that allows Russia to keep Ukrainian territory it has seized would not be a real peace It would reward the invasion validate Russias use of force and only give Russia time to rearm for a future larger attack
6 What are the risks for the West if they do appease Russia
The risks include emboldening Russia to threaten other neighboring countries undermining the global rulesbased order and signaling to other aggressive nations that military conquest is an acceptable way to achieve political goals
7 What are the risks for the West if they dont appease Russia and continue strong support
The main risks are a prolonged war continued economic strain from military and financial aid and the potential for a direct military confrontation with Russia either by accident or design
8 How is this situation similar to historical appeasement
Many leaders and historians draw a parallel to the 1938 Munich Agreement where Britain and France allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia hoping it would satisfy Hitler Instead it only emb
