Zelensky openly accused Putin of speculation regarding negotiations with Ukraine
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky once again expressed his outrage and condemned the behavior of the Russian leadership, which, in his opinion, uses the topic of possible negotiations to achieve its own goals — avoiding harsh international sanctions and Ukraine’s isolation. In an interview with Bild, he stated that the Kremlin is actively manipulating the situation to create the illusion of diplomatic dialogue, while dragging out time and at the same time reducing the likelihood of tightening sanctions against Russia. According to the Ukrainian president, Putin is trying to use the negotiation topic as a means to “turn back” the issue of sanctions, while Russia itself seeks to avoid responsibility for its aggression and military actions. Zelensky emphasized that the Kremlin is trying to convince the international community, including U.S. President Donald Trump, that Russia has a diplomatic bridge to resolve the conflict. However, he is convinced that this “bridge” is a fiction, and Russia is simply boasting with lies. “Russia is lying to Trump,” Zelensky said. “It’s trying to create the impression that there is a dialogue between our countries and, in this way, avoid the consequences in the form of sanctions.” The Ukrainian president added that the Kremlin considers it very important to convey an ideological illusion of diplomacy to Washington in order to buy time and reduce pressure, as it is beneficial for Putin if sanctions are not intensified. Zelensky does not hide that he considers this game of Putin to be unethical and that, ultimately, it harms peaceful resolution. According to him, the main goal of the Russian authorities is to keep Ukraine isolated and create an environment in which direct dialogue with the West and America becomes complicated or impossible. He believes this will allow Russia to conduct a prolonged war without having to make significant concessions. “Clearly, a prolonged war without the support of our partners is almost an ideal scenario for Putin,” Zelensky stressed. “He cannot sustain a long war accompanied by sanctions and international isolation. That’s why support from Western countries and the U.S. is crucial for the further course of events.” At the same time, the president noted that Trump and the current American political elite, in his opinion, understand the signs of injustice, which helps them see “through” Russia’s lies. “President Trump sees and understands that Russia is not transparent and honest about the war,” Zelensky said. “I am convinced that he senses that Russia is simply bluffing and misleading the world, and this game is not aimed at peace but at dragging out time.” Zelensky emphasizes that his assessment of the criticism directed at him by Trump is quite natural and should be viewed as a valuable signal. “I am ready for any remarks if they help speed up the end of the war. That’s our main priority,” he added. Regarding the sanctions situation, the Ukrainian president believes that their implementation was too slow, which allowed the Kremlin to better prepare for the sanctions industry. “This enabled Putin to adapt and create the impression that his economy still has reserves,” Zelensky said. “He is dragging out time to reduce the negative impact of sanctions and stay in the game.” In this context, Zelensky stressed the importance of a tough and faster response from the West. In his opinion, only tightening sanctions can force the Kremlin to change its stance and seriously seek a compromise. “The more support the world gives Ukraine, the greater the chances that human casualties will decrease. Because for us, human lives are not just fuel—like firewood we throw into the fire; we cannot treat our people the way the Russians do,” he concluded.