Zelensky rules out neutrality or army limits, tying Russia sanctions relief to ending war and security guarantees

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Alla Mazur for TSN Week that Ukraine would not accept neutral status or restrictions on the size of its armed forces as part of any agreement with Russia.

“Our security guarantees are our security guarantees. They cannot be dictated by the Russian side,” Zelensky said. “Restrictions on our army and Ukraine’s neutrality are not up for discussion.”

He also opposed lifting sanctions on Russia simply for economic reasons, saying restrictions were imposed over Moscow’s invasion, occupation of Ukrainian territory and killings. Sanctions relief, he argued, should be tied to ending the war, diplomacy, reconstruction and security guarantees.

Zelensky defended Ukrainian strikes on Russian refining infrastructure, saying they had not materially affected global prices and claiming Russian diesel accounts for roughly 2% of global exports. He said Ukraine had offered an energy ceasefire under which Kyiv would stop striking Russian refineries if Moscow stopped attacking Ukraine’s power infrastructure.

He also described tensions with Washington over satellite access and air defenses. Zelensky said Ukraine had told the United States that if expanded Starlink coverage was unavailable because of Elon Musk’s position, Washington should instead provide additional Patriot interceptor missiles.

“At that moment, we received nothing,” he said, referring to the period after Washington eased some sanctions on Russian fuel. Zelensky said Ukraine received no additional Patriot missiles while the speed of satellite services it already had was reduced.

Ukraine said full Starlink/Starshield speeds and U.S. ballistic-missile intelligence were restored after talks with American and European officials in Oslo, but Zelensky said shortages of Patriot interceptors remained unresolved.

He added that he currently saw no push from Europe’s major economies to restore energy ties with Russia or lift sanctions.