Zelensky says Ukraine will keep a sizable force and rejects neutrality in peace talks
President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Ukraine will retain a large military and will not consider neutrality, insisting these issues are non-negotiable.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told host Alia Mazur that Ukraine intends to maintain a substantial military, describing the force's size as a domestic issue beyond any negotiations with Russia or the United States. He emphasized that securing sufficient financing and obtaining firm security guarantees are the core concerns for any peace settlement. Zelensky highlighted that the restoration of Starlink connectivity and uninterrupted intelligence flow on ballistic missile attacks are now operating at full capacity following productive discussions in Oslo.
He mentioned that recent tensions with Washington over air-defence shortages, Starlink restrictions, and intelligence limits have been partly resolved, though additional air-defence systems are still needed. Zelensky also referred to a U.S. proposal document sent to President Vladimir Putin, stating that Ukraine will not discuss adopting neutrality or imposing limits on its armed forces, and that territorial issues remain a red line for Kyiv.
Why it matters
The stance shapes Ukraine's negotiating position and its reliance on foreign funding and security guarantees.
How this story developed
- Oct 14 SpaceX throttles Starlink in Ukraine, hampering drone strike operations
- Oct 22 Senator Marco Rubio told reporters that the reduction in Starlink service for Ukraine was decided by SpaceX under its commercial agreement, not directed by the White House.
- Oct 22 Elon Musk clarified that the Starshield system is owned by the U.S. government and that any speed restrictions are imposed by the military.
- Oct 23 Senator Richard Blumenthal announced a Senate investigation into who authorized the Starshield bandwidth restriction for Ukraine.
- Oct 23 President Trump said Elon Musk had removed the speed limits on Starshield terminals.
- Oct 23 The Ukrainian army said it will take measures to ensure a humanitarian mission in Olechky, the Moscow‑occupied city where the Kremlin and Melania Trump announced a forthcoming cease‑fire.
- Oct 24 The cease‑fire is scheduled to start early Tuesday with humanitarian corridors and a 270‑person prisoner swap.
- Oct 24 Ukraine's Defence Ministry reports Starshield connectivity restored after weeks of throttling.
- Oct 24 Only a limited number of units have regained higher‑speed Starshield access, indicating a partial restoration.
- Oct 24 Heléne Fritzon launched a petition that gathered over 60 signatures from fellow EU legislators calling for an explanation from the United States over the Starlink speed limits.
- Oct 24 Ukraine’s satellite internet and defense links are now operating at pre-restriction speeds after a week of limited connectivity that hampered military communications.
- Oct 25 Musk announced the closure of the loophole that had allowed the disputed use.
- Oct 25 Speed caps on Starlink terminals moving faster than roughly 160 km/h were lifted, restoring speeds above 400 km/h.
- Oct 26 Both Starlink and Starshield high‑speed connections have been fully restored.
In this story
Related stories
17 in this thread