Zelensky emphasized: Russians are worried about the parade, and that is quite natural, but they should be more concerned about the duration of the war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently made a loud statement regarding the mood and concerns in Moscow ahead of the traditional military parade scheduled to take place in Russia. According to him, Russian leaders seem to be more worried about whether their celebratory parade will occur on time than about ending the war, which has already been ongoing for over a year and is causing destruction and suffering to the Ukrainian people. “We are preparing to discuss with our American partners the implementation of new sanctions measures. We are focusing precisely on those areas that hit Russia the hardest and would compel Moscow to return to diplomatic negotiations,” stated the Commander-in-Chief. Zelensky underlined that the primary goal of Western and Ukrainian diplomacy remains a swift and unconditional peace, with the first step being a complete and unconditional ceasefire. According to the president, Ukraine insists that Russia itself must make the first move towards ending hostilities—cease military actions and sit down at the negotiating table. “Right now, the Russians are worried about the possible failure of the festive parade, and that is quite natural. They are probably more concerned about whether their main military display will take place as scheduled than about the urgent need to end the war,” Zelensky highlighted. He added that such attitudes in the Kremlin are a sign that Russia is currently in deep internal crisis. However, he also reminded that their fear and worries should not distract from the main issue: the ongoing war, which destroys the country and causes human suffering. Additionally, the president announced that he discussed with the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine the issue of increasing pressure on Russian operational networks, as well as their supply chains and trade operations. He said that Ukrainian authorities are actively working to synchronize efforts with European partners in implementing sanctions, creating a united firm stance. This approach has yielded significant results, including closing Russian manufacturing facilities that were previously involved in supporting the Russian government’s military machinery. Zelensky emphasized the importance of close cooperation with the West and stated that preparations are underway for new negotiations with the United States regarding additional sanctions measures aimed at significantly applying economic pressure on Russia. “We aim to do everything possible to make these measures hit Russia’s economy as hard as possible and cover all sectors: from manufacturing and trade to the financial sector,” he noted. The president stressed that Ukraine’s goal is to stop the aggression and help Ukraine regain control over all occupied territories, restoring peace and stability. At the same time, he assured that all work and consultations continue to achieve the most effective results, reducing tensions and preventing further escalation of the conflict. Overall, Zelensky called on the Russians to reflect not only on the parade, which reflects their military and political peak but also on the fact that their war with Ukraine is still ongoing, destroying lives and the future of hundreds of thousands of people. He once again emphasized that the time has come for Russia to make a choice—either end the war and sit down at the negotiation table or face even harsher measures from the international community.