Ukrainian President: It’s Almost Impossible to Stop Putin Without the US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention of ending the war against Ukraine but is only trying to create the appearance of readiness for peace negotiations to gain additional time.

Zelensky expressed this position during an interview with the American TV channel Newsmax, in which he noted that the Kremlin is dragging out peace initiatives and is not interested in honest dialogue. In his opinion, the United States plays a key role in this situation.

“Without America’s participation, it will be tough to stop Putin. If the United States reduces aid to Ukraine or does not participate in the negotiations, our position will be weakened,” Zelensky emphasized.

The president also drew attention to the fact that Putin is attempting to convey an impression of openness to diplomacy, seeking to avoid new sanctions in the event of Donald Trump’s return to power. He added that Russian society, under the influence of Kremlin propaganda, perceives the Western world with hatred and supports armed actions.

“The Kremlin’s information machine has formed the opinion that Russia needs to “go all the way.” This inertia is very difficult to stop quickly. At the same time, the corrupt interests of Putin’s entourage contribute to the continuation of the war because the defense industry brings huge profits,” he added.

Zelensky believes that even in the event of negotiations with the Kremlin, the risk of repeated aggression remains. “Even if Trump manages to sit down at the negotiating table with Putin, it will be a partial success. After a pause, the war may resume, or only the face of aggression will change,” he emphasized.

The president called for a comprehensive approach to resolving the conflict, noting that a simple ceasefire does not guarantee stability. “We need not only ceasefire agreements but also tough sanctions, a clear plan to end the war, as well as reliable security guarantees for Ukraine,” he summed up.

Responding to a question about the so-called “peace memorandum” from Russia, Zelensky stressed that the Kremlin’s demands are unacceptable under the constitution and international law, considering them manipulation, not a genuine attempt to reach a compromise.

Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia resumed on June 2 in Istanbul.