Zelenskyy seeks post-war security bond as Moscow ‘hits’ Chernobyl

Vice-President JD Vance hammered home the US demand that the NATO alliance step up defense spending on Friday, ahead of a security meeting in Europe at a time of intense concern and uncertainty over the Trump administration’s foreign policy.

The future of Ukraine is the top item on the agenda.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country wants “security guarantees” before any talks to end the Ukraine-Russia war.

Zelenskyy made his remarks Friday during a meeting with US Vice President JD Vance. The two met at the Munich Security Conference. Many observers, particularly in Europe, are hoping Vance will shed at least some light on US President Donald Trump's ideas for a negotiated settlement to the war.

A Russian drone with a high-explosive warhead hit the protective confinement shell of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Kyiv region, the Ukrainian president said. Radiation levels have not increased, Zelenskyy and the UN atomic agency said.

Zelenskyy in Munich told reporters that he thinks the Chernobyl drone strike is a “very clear greeting from Putin and Russian Federation to the security conference.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday denied Ukraine’s claims.

Zelenskyy says he will only agree to meet in-person with Russian leader Vladimir Putin after a common plan is negotiated with US President Trump.

Zelenskyy believes Trump is the key to ending the conflict.