Zelenskyy: Putin’s capacity to prolong conflict may be weakened by Ukraine’s “resilience”
Zelenskyy: the president of Ukraine, emphasized on Thursday the significance of resilience in undermining Russia’s capacity to extend the conflict, explicitly connecting persistent pressure on Moscow to the likelihood of peace in Europe.
“If we know – and if Putin knows – that we can stay resilient, then his reason to drag-out this war becomes much weaker,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X, emphasizing endurance as a strategic factor. This post frames resilience as a tool that changes the aggressor’s calculations and influences the conflict’s overall trajectory.
Expanding on this, the president of Ukraine defined resilience as a kind of pressure meant to alter Russia’s strategy in the conflict. “This is how pressure on the aggressor should work – pressure that brings peace,” he said, placing Ukraine’s determination in the context of a larger plan to prevent further escalation.
Zelenskyy recognized the need of continental leadership in maintaining such pressure in a larger European framework. His words, “Thank you to everyone leading Europe in this direction,” emphasized the need of concerted political and strategic support in preserving a unified front.
Zelenskyy reiterated the idea of togetherness and emphasized the need of a strong European stance in the face of the protracted war. “Europe must be strong,” he said, reaffirming that fighting Russian aggression still requires a united front.
Zelenskyy cautioned that Ukraine has received signals that Russia is planning to extend the conflict into the next year, increasing worries about Moscow’s long-term goals. Zelenskyy linked this plea for European strength to events on the ground.
In a different post on X, Zelenskyy elaborated on this conclusion, writing, “Today, we heard signals from Moscow that they are preparing to make next year a year of war.” These messages are not only for us. He emphasized how important it is for Ukraine’s allies to identify and react to these signs, “especially partners in the United States, who often say that Russia wants to end the war.”
“The signals coming from Russia are the exact opposite, taking the form of official orders to their army,” Zelenskyy said, highlighting what he called a mismatch between Russia’s public rhetoric and its actions. He cautioned that such a strategy might be used to sabotage diplomacy.
“When Russia is in this mindset, it will also undermine diplomacy – seeking, through diplomatic language and pressure over specific points in documents – to merely mask its desire to destroy Ukraine and Ukrainians, and the desire to legitimise Russia’s theft of our land,” stated Putin.
Zelenskyy warned that such mentality may endanger other regions of Europe in addition to Ukraine. “And then come other countries in Europe, which someone in Russia might one day label their so-called ‘historical lands’,” he said.
Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s allies to continue providing security and financial help as well as other forms of protection in this regard. “Real protection is needed against this Russian case history of madness, and we will continue working with all partners to ensure that protection is in place,” he said.
He went on to describe the necessary assistance, saying, “Political, financial, and security measures are required, including attacks against Russian assets. Additionally, both partners must have the fortitude to recognize the reality, accept it, and act appropriately.
Additionally, Zelenskyy thanked the international community, adding, “I want to thank everyone who supports Ukraine.”
As the European Union contemplates taking Russian finances to help Ukraine, which is now in its fourth winter, Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on Wednesday said that Moscow will accomplish its goals and opposed the concept of confrontation with the West, according to Al Jazeera.
Putin was reported by state media as calling Western demands to prepare for war with Russia “hysteria and a lie,” while claiming that the Kremlin’s military objectives would “undoubtedly” be accomplished, at a high-level meeting with Ministry of Defense officials, according to Al Jazeera.
According to the article, Putin also said that 300 areas had been “liberated” in the previous year, despite Russia and Ukraine intensifying their attacks on each other’s oil refineries and energy infrastructure in recent weeks.