Ukraine war: Volodymyr Zelenskyy not in mood to compromise despite fears of Russian gains as conflict drags on | World News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “nobody” and said he was not interested in talking to him.
comments, in an exclusive interview with Kay Burley of Sky Newsstrengthen his government’s position on the issue of peace talks – they cannot take place while Mr. Putin remains president.
It is an enduring feeling fueled by resentment and disgust at the horror, pain and death that Russian forces that unleashed a full-scale war on Ukraine over the past 11 months on the orders of their commander-in-chief.
‘Chilling’ signs that Putin has become ‘reckless and emotional’ – Ukraine
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Zelensky spoke about his daily life
However, some Western diplomats are privately questioning whether it is prudent to continue to stick to such a red line as pressure builds for dialogue to end the war and Mr Putin70 years old, remains in power.
They say it would instead be helpful if the Ukrainians lifted that condition to make dialogue more likely at a time when Kyiv is in relative strength by launching successful counter-offensives to reclaim territories in the northeast and south of the country. , and the Western Allies continue to strongly support the war with heavy weapons, including tanks.
These diplomats are concerned that the longer the war drags on, the greater the risk that the balance of power could shift towards Russia, which could weaken Ukrainehand further.
But Mr ZelenskyThe 45-year-old has made it clear that he is not in the mood for compromise.
Asked if he would consider peace talks with Russia, the president said: “There are no peace talks with Russia yet because… we don’t know who we should negotiate with and about what.
“What kind of peace talks? At present, they are just criminals who have come here and killed and raped. That’s what they do.”
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Zelenskiy ‘not interested’ in meeting with ‘nobody’ Putin for peace talks
Will Ukraine have time to get tanks?
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Zelensky: “I never lost my sense of humor”
He said that any conversation could only happen under new management and when Russian troops withdraw from all Ukrainian territory.
“We hope that as soon as Russia withdraws its troops to its territory, they will admit their big mistakes, and there will be a new government in the Russian Federation,” the president said.
“We are neighbors. Only then will we settle this situation. Then, probably, negotiations will be possible.”
But what if he was in a room alone with Putin? What would Zelensky say?
His answer, given in English, was unshakable: “I’m not interested. Not interested in dating, not interested in talking… Who is he now? After a full-scale invasion, he is nobody to me, nobody. No decisions are interesting with him.”
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These words seem to have struck a nerve in the Kremlin.
The press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, answering a question about Zelensky’s comments, turned to insults.
According to him, the President of Ukraine “has long ceased to be a possible opponent of Putin.”
Given that the prospect of any negotiated settlement to the hostilities appears to be as far off as ever, this means that the war in Ukraine will rage on and likely become more bloody as both sides seek to launch new offensives. to get out of what has become a harrowing winter dead end. .
