Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a scathing critique of Vladimir Putin at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, calling the Russian leader a "slave to war."
Speaking days before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, Zelensky highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict, noting that Russian strikes have damaged every single power plant in Ukraine. Despite the destruction, he praised Ukrainian workers for maintaining the nation’s electricity supply but issued an urgent plea to Western allies for faster delivery of air-defense systems. Warning Against Territorial Concessions
Zelensky drew a sharp historical parallel between current pressure for territorial concessions and the 1938 Munich Agreement, which failed to prevent World War II after European powers ceded parts of Czechoslovakia to Hitler.
"It would be an illusion to believe that this war can now be reliably ended by dividing Ukraine," Zelensky warned. He emphasized that any peace deal must include "viable security guarantees" to prevent future Russian aggression, asserting that no loopholes should be left for Moscow to exploit.
The speech comes ahead of US-brokered talks in Geneva next week. Zelensky confirmed he has been in coordination with US officials, including envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, following previous rounds of negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
While Russia demands that Ukraine withdraw from the Donetsk region and recognize occupied territories, Kyiv remains firm on its territorial integrity. Zelensky also argued that European nations should have a seat at the negotiating table—a move Russia currently opposes.
Zelensky stated that not a single power plant in Ukraine remains undamaged by Russian attacks.
He noted that "weapons evolve faster than political decisions," citing the increasing lethality of Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
Zelensky clarified that national elections will be held once security guarantees are secured and a ceasefire is officially in place.
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