In his evening address, Zelenskyy added that Ukraine remains in constant contact with its Western partners, as the White House is making another attempt at crafting a peace settlement that could be accepted in both Kyiv and Moscow.
“Our team, together with American representatives, will at the end of this week continue to shape the points we outlined in Geneva [on Nov. 23, during previous round of talks] into a format that will lead us to peace and security guarantees,” he said.
He accused the Kremlin of “frustrated the efforts of key world powers” to achieve a lasting peace.
“Whether there will be peace does not depend on Russian threats or ultimatums but on the conditions the international community can establish to prevent further aggression,” said Zelenskyy.
The president added that Ukraine’s own actions to defend its territory, citizens, and national sovereignty are equally vital. He stated that holding positions on the battlefield, resisting the enemy at the front, and working with partners to improve diplomatic leverage are all critical.
Zelenskyy noted that as Russia sits on “the largest area of internationally recognized territory, much of it undeveloped and neglected,” its rulers view the land beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg as disposable.
“When they demand more kilometers of Ukrainian land, it’s not about territory, it’s about lifelong rule, subjugating a neighboring people,” the president said.
“We have seen clearly that nothing can be expected from Russia except destruction. This is a lesson learned not just by us, but everyone in Europe, each and every country sharing a border with Russia—from Finland, to Kazakhstan, to Japan.”