KYIV, May 21 - Ukraine’s leader voiced fear that the U.S. could strike a deal with Russia behind his country’s back, and rebuked France and Germany for a perceived softening of their stance in talks with Moscow, AP reported Thursday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy specifically warned Washington that its failure to block the construction of a Russian-built natural gas pipeline to Germany would be a grave political error.

“It would be a loss for the United States, and I believe it would be President Biden’s personal loss,” Zelenskiy said at a news conference. “It would mark a serious geopolitical victory for the Russian Federation and a new redistribution of spheres of influence.”

Zelenskiy’s undiplomatic comments reflected Ukrainian concern that the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline bypassing its territory would deprive it of transit fees for pumping the Russian gas to Europe, erode its strategic importance and weaken it politically.

The U.S. has strongly opposed the construction of the new Russian pipeline, but the Biden administration opted Wednesday not to punish the German company overseeing the project while announcing the new sanctions against Russian companies and ships. The Kremlin hailed it as a “positive signal” before a possible Biden’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a tense tug-of-war ever since Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 following the ouster of the country’s former Kremlin-friendly president and threw its weight behind separatist rebels in Ukraine’s east.

Zelenskiy said that even though U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has assured him during a visit earlier this month that Washington would first consult Kyiv on any Ukraine-related issues before it discusses them with Russia, he is still deeply worried.

“Are there risks that some issues will be raised despite our agreements? he said. ”Yes, I’m sure that there such risks. I’ll be frank with you, I’m scared by this situation.”

More than 14,000 people have died in seven years of fighting in Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland called Donbas.

A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped end large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued along the tense line of contact in the east and political settlement efforts have stalled.

Last month, increasing violations of a cease-fire in the east and a major Russian troop buildup near Ukraine stoked Ukrainian and Western fears of renewed hostilities. Moscow says it has withdrawn its forces after sweeping maneuvers, but Zelenskyy said Thursday that many Russian troops have remained near Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president also said that France and Germany recently have been too soft on Russia.

“I feel their support, but I believe that it should be stronger,” he said. “They are aware of my thoughts, I have been very frank with them. I believe that they have recently weakened their positions a bit.” (ap/ez)