Putin keeps dodging: Zelenskyy announces «very active» week ahead

The upcoming week, starting September 1, is when the Kremlin is expected to be prepared for genuine talks — a meeting at the leaders’ level. Ukraine, therefore, counts on the position of the United States, Europe, and G20 countries to pressure Russia into ending the war.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in his address on August 31.

“We are planning a very active diplomatic week. Two weeks ago, Washington made it clear that by this time the Russians must be ready for real negotiations, for a leaders’ meeting. Ukraine is definitely ready for this. But the only thing Russia is doing is investing in further war. All their signals point to that,” the President stated.

He recalled the SCO summit currently taking place in China and the visit of Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the PRC.

“Now, during his visit to China, Putin will again be dodging. That’s his number one sport. Everyone in the world has said the fire must be stopped. Everyone insisted the war must end. That was the position of all in China. We discussed this with the Prime Minister of India, as well as with other leaders who are also at the summit, by the way,” Zelenskyy said.

He noted that China is hosting the leaders of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, yet only the Kremlin’s leader is seeking to prolong the war in Ukraine.

“Almost everyone else in the world also supports ending the war. Today there were principled statements from the Pope. We are grateful for that. The only one who wants war is Russia. That’s why we will continue to apply pressure. Russia must be pressured. We expect that no one will tolerate the dragging out of the war. We are counting on a firm position from the United States, Europe, and the G20. This war only adds destabilization to global processes. Russia must pay for this,” Zelenskyy said.