Comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In an interview with Rai Italia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to recent statements by Russian leader Vladimir Putin regarding a potential end to the war. Zelenskyy expressed deep distrust of these words, emphasizing that Russian aggression has only intensified, making it impossible for Ukraine to rely on promises from Moscow. The President stated he is open to diplomatic negotiations, but only with concrete security guarantees in place.
Zelenskyy noted that some in the international community have begun to treat Putin's claims as credible, particularly those suggesting the war would end if Ukraine withdrew from the Donbas. He countered this by stressing that
“the aggression has only increased, and we simply cannot trust the Russian side.”
The President further questioned the logic of a retreat, asking,
“Why should we leave our own land, which we control?”He sees no reason for Ukrainian forces to abandon the territories they currently hold.
Zelenskyy also assessed the state of Russian forces, asserting that Putin, having failed to achieve battlefield success, now wants Ukraine to believe him and abandon its fortified positions. The Ukrainian leader believes that a withdrawal of his forces could preserve between 300,000 and one million of Putin's soldiers, depending on the scale and duration of offensive operations in the Donbas.
“Why on earth should we suddenly believe him and give him such gifts?”he remarked. These comments come as Russia maintains a total military personnel strength of 2.4 million, with 1.5 million being active-duty servicemembers, according to a decree by Putin.
Ukraine's Alarm Over Potential Manipulation
President Zelenskyy's statements underscore Ukraine's alarm over potential Russian manipulation in peace discussions, especially amid escalating violence on the ground. The Ukrainian leadership maintains that without verifiable security guarantees, no negotiations can be productive. This stance highlights Ukraine's strategic approach to diplomacy and underscores the critical need for sustained international support in resolving the conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.