Zelensky challenges western hesitance in confronting Putin
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with "Le Parisien," expressed his belief that Russia, under Putin's rule, has been terrorizing the world and acting with impunity. He also mentioned that Ukraine currently lacks the resources to reclaim Crimea and Donbas.
During a conversation with "Le Parisien," Zelensky stated that Russia, under Vladimir Putin's leadership, has terrorized the world and acted without consequence. Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine does not currently have the strength to recapture Crimea and Donbas, which remain under Russian occupation.
We can only rely on diplomatic pressure from the international community to force Putin to come to the negotiating table, he said.
President Zelensky admitted that the Ukrainian army lacks sufficient strength to regain control of Donbas and Crimea but emphasized that he does not consider surrendering these territories to Russia. The Ukrainian constitution prohibits such actions, forcing leaders to depend on international diplomatic pressure to engage Russia in negotiations. Zelensky highlighted the lack of adequate response from Western nations to Russia's aggressive actions under Putin.
Zelensky expressed surprise at why the West, despite supporting Ukraine, is so cautious in its dealings with Putin.
Why weren't we massively supplied with weapons from the start of the war? What I'm saying may seem audacious, yet I have the impression that everyone is intimidated by Putin's Russia. He is acting with impunity, he stressed.
According to Zelensky, any peace talks with Vladimir Putin must be backed by a comprehensive action plan or peace proposal for Russia. He emphasized that potential negotiations cannot proceed without Ukraine's active involvement, as it is the victim of aggression. He also referred to Donald Trump's election as president of the USA, expressing hope that his administration will continue to support Kyiv and work towards resolving the conflict.
Zelensky on Putin: this is not political games, but missile attacks
The President of Ukraine noted that Putin is not engaged in political manoeuvres but is launching missile attacks.
Why does the whole world allow this? The United States, India, the European Union... - he listed.
In response to a question about the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing from its goal of joining NATO, Zelensky asked what his country would "gain in return" and "who can guarantee that Putin will not return to Ukraine."
Zelensky firmly rules out "freezing" the conflict with Russia, even if Trump assumes office. He believes that reaching a quick agreement with Russia could pose risks, and Ukraine does not intend to surrender its sovereignty for diplomatic convenience. The President emphasizes that a long-term strategy is needed, not short-term solutions.
According to Zelensky, the world is not responding firmly enough to Putin's nuclear threats.
All possible sanctions should be imposed to deter any leader, whether Putin or anyone else, from even contemplating it (i.e., nuclear war - ed. PAP). Unfortunately, we do not see strong enough reactions, he said.
