Zelenskyy reacts to Putin's latest statements about Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (photo: president.gov.ua)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin fears strong leaders and meaningful negotiations. The Kremlin chief’s reluctance to engage in peace talks, he said, is an attempt to prolong the war indefinitely, according to the president’s Telegram channel.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin has once again demonstrated that he fears negotiations and strong leaders, doing everything in his power to prolong the war. Zelenskyy believes that every step taken by the Russian President, along with his cynical maneuvers, is aimed at making the war endless.
"In 2014, Russia began a hybrid war against Ukraine, which it escalated into a full-scale invasion in 2022. Now, we see an opportunity to achieve real peace. However, it is Putin who is doing everything to either continue killing on a large scale or secure a pause to prepare for a new full-scale invasion through hybrid attacks," Zelenskyy stated.
The president emphasized that global leaders must learn from the mistakes of previous years and those leaders who are no longer on the stage. He identified the main mistake as allowing Putin vast opportunities to destroy the world, while his heart is too small and cowardly to withstand genuine pressure from leaders.
"That is why we must act in unity and with determination - all those who are brave enough to believe in peace and bring it closer through strength. True peace is possible if Russia is forced to achieve it," Zelenskyy concluded.
Putin's new statements about the war in Ukraine
On Tuesday, January 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a new narrative to justify Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Putin suggested that the war would end within a month or two if Western partners ceased providing financial and military assistance to Ukraine. He also alleged that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had lost legitimacy and therefore lacked the authority to sign agreements resulting from peace talks.
Previously, Putin stated that Kyiv was incapable of negotiating with Russia due to a decree by President Zelenskyy banning such actions. This remark came in response to a firm demand by former US President Donald Trump for Russia to engage in negotiations with Kyiv.
