Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly emphasized that it would be “an act of folly” for Europe to make concessions to Russia in an effort to stop its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This statement echoed after Moscow requested direct negotiations between the West and Russia to discuss ending the conflict.
Amidst the backdrop of Donald Trump’s recent triumph in the US presidential race, Ukraine is intensifying its calls for enhanced support from its allies to bolster its resistance against Russian aggression. Trump has boasted of his ability to settle the conflict rapidly, frequently voicing discontent over US support for Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is insisting that Ukraine relinquish substantial territories in its eastern and southern regions as a condition for peace talks. However, Kyiv has steadfastly refused to surrender any land in return for peace.
While addressing European leaders at a summit in Hungary, President Zelensky criticized those urging him to capitulate to some of Putin’s severe demands. “There’s been a lot of chatter about the need to compromise with Putin, to pull back, to make concessions,” he stated, according to a report shared by the Ukrainian presidency. “This is completely unacceptable for Ukraine and absolutely reckless for all of Europe.”
He did not shy away from calling out unnamed European leaders who, he claimed, were strongly advocating for Ukraine to make compromises. “What we truly need is adequate weaponry, not negotiations. Cozying up to Putin won’t make a difference. For two decades, some of you have been embracing him, and it’s only gone downhill since then,” Zelensky asserted.
Just as Zelensky made these remarks, Russia launched strikes on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, targeting a hospital and residential buildings, resulting in the death of at least four individuals. Ukrainian emergency services reported that eighteen more, including two children, were injured and there was concern that additional victims could be trapped beneath the rubble.
Zaporizhzhia, an industrial city with a pre-war population exceeding 700,000, has faced increased Russian attacks recently despite its proximity—only about 35 kilometers—to the nearest Russian forces. The context paints a grim picture of the ongoing conflict.
Hours prior to the strikes, Russia reiterated its demand for Ukraine’s allies to engage in negotiations, insinuating that this was the key to halting the onslaught. Sergei Shoigu, head of the Russian Security Council, asserted that the West must choose between continuing support for Ukraine—which he labeled as leading to “destruction”—or acknowledging the current situation and starting negotiations. “Now, as the battlefield dynamics lean away from Kyiv’s favor, the West must make a decision,” Shoigu noted during a meeting with defense officials from other former Soviet states. “Is it worth financing Kyiv and enabling further devastation, or should we recognize reality and negotiate?”
This was one of the initial responses from a Russian official after the confirmation of Trump’s return to the White House in January, signaling a potential shift in the geopolitical landscape.
Previously, President Zelensky has mentioned that without assistance from the U.S., Ukraine would undoubtedly face defeat. The challenges are mounting, particularly in the eastern Donbas region, where Ukrainian forces find themselves increasingly outmatched and outgunned. Reports indicate that Russian troops have made incremental advances, even claiming control of Kreminna Balka, a village with a population of fewer than fifty people, situated in the industrial Donetsk area, where Ukrainian defenses have consistently faltered.
Ukrainian authorities are also preparing to announce mandatory evacuations in seven additional villages situated within regions that were claimed by the Kremlin as part of Russia back in 2022. Today, local reports indicated that two individuals lost their lives due to shelling in this area.
In a stark display of continued aggression, Russia launched 106 drones against Ukraine overnight, with the Ukrainian air force successfully intercepting 74 of them across eleven regions. Nevertheless, local officials reported casualties, including two fatalities, as a result of the attacks in the frontline areas of Kherson and Sumy.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
