Zelenskyy on whether he is ready to let Putin «save face»
President Volodymyr Zelenskyyy said that Vladimir Putin has no desire to end the war against Ukraine, calling on the United States to tighten sanctions and economic pressure on Russia.
Zelenskyy outlines how US can leverage Putin / © TSN.ua
Instead of looking for ways to «save face» for the Kremlin leader, the international community must force him into peace through sanctions.
The Ukrainian president made these remarks in an interview with TSN TV host Alla Mazur.
The Ukrainian president stressed that the Russian dictator is not seeking to end the war and that international partners should intensify pressure on Russia, primarily through sanctions.
Sanctions over concessions: how US can leverage Putin
Zelenskyy said that strict economic restrictions by the US and its allies must become the key tool for leveraging the Kremlin.
«We understand that Putin does not want. Putin must be forced, and through strong actions from America—sanctions, first and foremost. Number one. We highly hope for sanctions and various forms of economic pressure,» the president stressed.
At the same time, he criticized the approach of certain international mediators who return from Moscow convinced that Putin is allegedly ready to end the war but is merely looking for a way to «save face.»
«I am against the concept of saving Putin’s face. I believe this is a global geopolitical mistake,» Zelenskyy declared.
In his view, the global community’s past desire to prevent a Kremlin defeat following the occupation of Crimea was a display of weakness, the consequences of which are still being felt today.
The president also underlined that Ukraine will not agree to territorial concessions or give up its lands.
«When we communicate with the Americans, they know full well—and we have strongly demonstrated this once again—that we are going nowhere. This is our land, our state,» Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy concluded that the issue is not helping Putin salvage his reputation, but breaking his will to continue the aggression against Ukraine. International partners, he said, must focus on intensifying pressure on Russia and making decisions that can realistically impact the Kremlin’s stance.