Ending Russia’s war is possible through collective strong pressure and the joint development, together with Europe and the United States, of a multi-component air defense system. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his speech at the annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) meeting.
The Head of State thanked all attendees for their support and expressed special gratitude to President of Finland Alexander Stubb and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine General Keith Kellogg, who also participated in the meeting.
“It turns out the United States has air defense no worse than Patriots. Indeed, General, this is what people say every time you are here. When you are in Kyiv, Keith Kellogg, the people of Kyiv can finally get some sleep. We would love for you to travel around all the cities of Ukraine. We truly would like to have a few more of such American systems for our country,” said the President, addressing General Kellogg.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the United States has the power to influence Vladimir Putin. That is why, during visits by Keith Kellogg, the Russians do not carry out massive strikes. However, with representatives of other states and international organizations, including the largest – the UN, OSCE, and IMF – this does not work.
“Probably China also has such an opportunity – to make the Russians stop killing. But the world has not seen any willingness from China to make this happen with regard to Russia. China has called for a ceasefire in this war and for this war not to be expanded, but Putin has done nothing. And that does not prevent China from hosting Putin with open arms and talking with him about what matters most – longevity,” the President noted.
The Head of State added that Russia has also ignored India’s calls to end the war, as well as those of everyone else in the world.
“Putin does not believe in Europe, in America, or in the West as a whole. That is precisely why Russia is waging war. Putin believes in China, in Iran, in North Korea. And that is why he seeks strategic agreements there. Putin is betting that money will corrupt everyone – the weak and the strong alike. He believes money will allow him to buy forgiveness – for everything. Basically, that is his plan: to try to buy forgiveness. And to continue the war,” the President said.
The Head of State noted that Russia continues to shell Ukrainian cities and attack Poland with drones, yet there are no consequences for it.
“A day before the attack on Poland, the Russians killed 25 people in Yarova, Donetsk region – ordinary people, elderly people, who had come for their pensions. These are the very residents of Donbas whom Russia claims to be saving. It is killing them. This is the very land that Russia wants to take away in order to supposedly ‘save’ – save it from life. And just a little more than a week before Yarova, the Russian flag was flying at the film festival in Venice,” the President recalled.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that strong responses are needed to stop the Russian war machine.
“Russia must come to believe that America, Europe, and the West as a whole will not allow Russia to wage war. Persuading Russia alone, dialogue alone, will not achieve this. What is needed is truly strong pressure – so that instead of aiming to occupy Ukraine or any other country, Putin’s goal becomes preserving his economy, his system, preserving what he has lived for all these years. We cannot replace this head, but we can replace the main objective,” the President stated.
The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine is offering partners a way to make Russia stop its attacks: defending the airspace together with Europe and the U.S.
“It is the United States of America that has and can provide such air defense systems, such quality and, above all, such quantity of combat aircraft, so that within a multi-component system of defense – above all, of the sky – we, together with our partners in Europe, can stop Russia’s terror. And this will surely force Russia to end the war,” added Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In addition, the President stressed that security guarantees for Ukraine are guarantees of security for everyone in Europe. He thanked all partners who are assisting and working toward implementing this.
The Head of State also highlighted the importance of maintaining Russia’s isolation through sanctions, tariffs, and the confiscation of Russian assets. He stressed that demanding Ukrainian land in exchange for Vladimir Putin to stop the war is ineffective and will only lead to a pause in Russian aggression, as happened after 2008 in Georgia and after 2014 in Crimea and Donetsk.
According to the President, Ukraine needs a guaranteed end to the war, guaranteed security, and guaranteed accountability for Russia for its actions.
“Only together can we achieve peace. And only if we respond strongly to every question this war poses. Strongly. So that the objectives change,” concluded the Head of State.
