Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly rejected any concessions regarding the Donbas region during an appearance at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, stating that asking residents to abandon their homes would be a “great idea” only to “the big bosses.” The statement came as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio abruptly cancelled a planned meeting with European counterparts on the sidelines of the conference, a move described as “crazy” by European officials.
Zelenskyy’s comments addressed persistent Russian demands for Ukraine to cede control of the Donbas, areas of Donetsk and Luhansk currently under Kyiv’s control. He framed the suggestion as a callous disregard for the approximately 200,000 Ukrainian citizens still residing in those regions. “I should go to them, to every apartment, knock and say: Seem, a great idea! Forget your home, forget everything, your relatives, leave your home, because that is the great idea of the big bosses,” Zelenskyy said, according to a report from the Ukrainian news portal Politico.
The cancellation of Rubio’s meeting, initially scheduled with representatives from Germany, Finland, Poland, and the European Union Commission, adds to the diplomatic complexities surrounding the ongoing conflict. The Financial Times first reported the cancellation, citing U.S. Sources. The abrupt change in plans occurred as Rubio prepared to deliver a keynote address at the conference.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte offered a stark assessment of Russia’s military progress, comparing its advance in Ukraine to that of a “garden snail.” Rutte also highlighted the significant casualties sustained by Russian forces, claiming that 35,000 soldiers were killed in December alone, followed by another 30,000 in January. “These are the facts,” Rutte stated, emphasizing the need for continued support for Ukraine. “That is why we must maintain Ukraine strong, because we see that they are using our support in the best possible way.”
In a separate development, Zelenskyy awarded a state order to Wladyslaw Heraskewytsch, a Ukrainian skeleton racer who was disqualified from the Winter Olympics. The award recognizes Heraskewytsch despite his exclusion from the games. A concert intended as a show of U.S.-Ukrainian solidarity is planned, with further performances scheduled in the coming weeks, according to organizer Tetiana Marosowa.