Ukraine’s President Condemns Russia’s True Intentions in Peace Talks
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia’s true intentions in negotiations with Kiev are not to achieve peace, but to persuade the US to lift further sanctions against Russia. In an interview with German media outlet Axel-Springer, Zelensky stated that Russia’s goal is to show the US that a diplomatic bridge exists between Ukraine and Russia, thereby preventing the introduction of new sanctions against Russia.
Zelensky believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not interested in a genuine peace agreement and that his ultimate objective is to isolate Ukraine and prolong the conflict. The Ukrainian leader also accused Russia of seeking a “dialogue without Europeans and Americans” to achieve this goal.
Despite the positive words exchanged between Trump and Putin, Zelensky does not think the US President has been fooled by Russia’s tactics. “President Trump sees that the Russian side is not entirely open and honest about the war” Zelensky said. “I think Russia is just lying to Trump.”
While Zelensky accepts Trump’s criticism of Russia, he is more concerned with the end result of the talks, stating that he would accept any outcome that brings an end to the conflict. The Ukrainian President also expressed his hope that the US would understand Putin’s tactics, as most government leaders share his view.
Zelensky remains convinced that Putin only understands strength and that the US has the power to counterbalance this. He expressed his desire for the US to see and understand this reality.