Russia may open new front in Europe as Putin 'in dead-end situation' - Zelenskyy
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is stuck in his military campaign against Ukraine and could be preparing for another attack, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with The Guardian.
The Kremlin is currently waging a hybrid war against Europe while testing NATO's red lines.
Zelenskyy warned that Russia could open a second front against another European country before the war in Ukraine ends.
"I believe so. He can do that. We must forget about the general European scepticism that Putin first wants to occupy Ukraine and then may go somewhere else. He can do both at the same time," he said.
He linked the rise in hybrid drone attacks in Europe to Russia's lack of progress on the front lines.
"Putin is in a dead-end situation in terms of real success. It's more like a stalemate for him. That's why these failures could lead him to look for other territories. It's very difficult for us, but we are at home and defending ourselves," Zelenskyy added.
Zelenskyy also said the current Russian regime needs an external enemy to unite the country around Putin, who has always considered the West and the US as enemies. Friendship with Russia is therefore not an option for the US.
What Zelenskyy previously said about Putin
Earlier, Zelenskyy explained how he told Donald Trump that Putin was misleading him about supposed successes on the front. Ukrainian intelligence discovered that Putin privately boasted to his allies about plans to occupy all of Donbas before October 15.
"Russia can't do it. He doesn't have enough people. His strong battalions have been destroyed. Today on the battlefield, we stay mostly where we stood during these last 2-3 months," Zelenskyy said.
Today, during the interview with The Guardian, Zelenskyy stated he is not "afraid" of Donald Trump, unlike many other world leaders. He sees the US as a long-standing strategic partner, not an enemy.
