Peace Must Be Durable: Zelenskyy Balances Urgency with Long-Term Stability Concerns

Ukraine’s president articulated a careful balance between ending fighting quickly and ensuring any peace proves lasting. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that peace must become truly durable while acknowledging the importance of ending the war as soon as possible.
This formulation reflects concerns that excessive pressure for rapid agreement could produce unstable settlements that merely postpone renewed conflict. Zelenskyy’s phrasing suggests awareness that urgency must not override the need for sustainable arrangements.
The Ukrainian leader’s comments came after several hours of intensive discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Their talks focused substantially on security guarantee mechanisms designed to ensure any peace settlement would be maintained over time.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized that Russia must not perceive any outcome as rewarding its invasion. This principle aims to prevent settlements that would encourage future aggression by demonstrating that territorial conquest through military force can succeed.
European leaders share concerns about durability, insisting that security arrangements must include meaningful enforcement mechanisms. They argue that previous agreements Russia violated demonstrate the need for robust guarantees backed by concrete commitments from multiple parties.