Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the BBC in the government headquarters in Kyiv, stating that President Vladimir Putin has already started World War Three.
According to Zelensky, the only answer is intense military and economic pressure to force Putin to step back. Zelensky believes that stopping Putin today and preventing him from occupying Ukraine is a victory for the whole world.
Zelensky's comments come as the BBC reports on the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian president has been firm in his stance against paying the price for a ceasefire deal demanded by Putin.
Response to Ceasefire Demands
Zelensky was asked about Russia's demand for Ukraine to hand over 20% of the eastern region of Donetsk. He stated that he sees this as abandonment, weakening Ukraine's positions and abandoning hundreds of thousands of people who live there.
Zelensky also mentioned that he does not believe that satisfying Putin's demands would bring a lasting peace, as Putin would likely recover and continue the war in the future.
US Involvement and Security Guarantees
US President Donald Trump has been criticized for his handling of the situation, with some analysts believing that Ukraine cannot win the war without making concessions to Moscow. Zelensky was asked about Trump's statements, and he laughed, saying that he is not a dictator and did not start the war.
Zelensky also discussed the need for security guarantees from the US, stating that these guarantees would need to be approved by Congress to be reliable.
Ukrainian Elections and Martial Law
Zelensky was asked about the possibility of holding elections in Ukraine, which were due in 2024 but have been postponed due to martial law. He stated that holding elections would be technically possible if they had time to change the law, but he needed security guarantees for Ukraine first.
Zelensky also raised concerns about holding elections with millions of Ukrainians abroad as refugees and significant tracts of the country occupied by Russia.
Conclusion and Outlook
Zelensky remains determined to stop Putin and end the war, despite the challenges and uncertainties ahead. He believes that success will come from choosing the right parallel steps and directions, and that one of these paths will bring success for Ukraine.
