Ukraine's Zelensky and US Secretary of State Rubio meet at MSC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the Munich Security Conference and thanked his international allies for their support in the war against Russia.

Previous US-led efforts to find consensus on ending the war have failed to resolve difficult issues, such as the future of Ukraine's Donbas industrial heartland that is largely occupied by Russian forces.

Handshakes and smiles as Rubio and Zelenskyy meet on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

A year ago sitting in the White House, Zelenskyy was accused by US Vice President JD Vance of being ungrateful.

While in Munich, the Ukrainian leader has been effusive in his thanks to the US and Europe for their support in supplying weapons to defend Ukraine against Russian attacks.

Zelenskyy also met with some US senators and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, brought up the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to ever give up the eastern Donbas territory, much of which his forces have captured.

One of Zelenskyy's main concerns is guarantees for Ukraine's security from a repeat Russian attack once a peace treaty is in place.

Republican Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham said: "I don't think we're going to get a deal anytime soon. I think Putin is not ready to negotiate seriously. I think we've made progress, but he believes that he can take the Donbas over a range of time. He's not going to stop until the pressure is more, not less."

At the conference, top European leaders discussed Washington's role in the Ukraine-Russia peace talks.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski insists that Europe deserves a seat at the table. His argument is that the US, under President Trump, is no longer paying for weapons to support Ukraine but selling them to Europe.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said: "We are now paying for this war. The American outlay for the war for last year was close to zero. We are buying American weapons to be delivered to Ukraine. There is no package in the US Congress and there isn't even the prospect of a package. If we are paying, if this is affecting our security, not just Ukraine's, then we deserve the seat at the table because the outcome of this war will affect us."