Zelensky Urges Europe to Prepare for a Large-Scale War and Warns of Potential Threats from Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during an interview with Le Point in Paris, emphasized the importance of a firm stance against territorial concessions in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
He warned that any territorial compromises Ukraine might consider would only provide temporary relief but would not eliminate the danger of a full-scale invasion.
Zelensky stated that abandoning control over eastern regions such as Donbas could give Putin the opportunity to use seized territories as footholds for future attacks on Europe, including NATO countries, if the European Union and its members do not strengthen their defense capabilities.The leader of Ukraine highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to regain control over Ukraine using a tactic of “capture and deterrence,” which he already employed in 2014 by annexing Crimea and capturing parts of Donbas.
Zelensky stressed that any withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from territories under Kyiv’s control would open the way for further annexations — industrial centers, strategic cities, and critical transportation routes — posing a threat to Europe.He added that Europe must be prepared for the worst-case scenario: if Putin is able to fully capture Ukraine, it would threaten the entire region.
Zelensky compared Russia’s potential use of long-range missiles, with ranges exceeding 2,500 kilometers now and anticipated to grow to over 5,000 kilometers in the near future, making regional conflicts potentially global.
Natural barriers like oceans and seas would no longer suffice to contain an aggressive Russia.The Ukrainian president emphasized that Ukraine’s fate determines the duration and intensity of the war impacting Europe.
He called on European nations to unite more strongly and bolster their defenses because their level of backing is crucial for deterring Russian aggression.
If Ukraine falls, Europe’s borders could shift to Poland or even Germany — zones that once marked the separation between East and West during the Cold War.
This underscores the urgent need to reinforce European security and avoid strategic weaknesses.Zelensky also cited South Korea’s example, which, despite not signing a formal peace treaty after the Korean War, managed to become one of the most prosperous economies in the world.
This demonstrates that even under difficult circumstances, a country can rebuild and thrive if it remains united and committed to independence.