Zelensky urges greater international pressure on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for increased international pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine, saying there was still no sign that President Vladimir Putin was ready for peace.
"There is not enough pressure," Zelensky told German broadcaster RTL on Wednesday.
During his visit to Berlin, he criticized what he sees as insufficient commitment from global powers. "The United States is involved, but not 100%. Other countries, like China and those from the Global South, are holding back," he said.
Zelensky also suggested that a lasting peace may only be possible once Putin is no longer in power. "We will have a just peace – but likely only after Putin," he said.
The Ukrainian president has previously described the war, sparked by the 72-year-old Russian leader, as a generational conflict.
Still, he said a ceasefire could be the first step towards a broader peace process. "Peace, which begins with a ceasefire and then moves towards lasting solutions, could start tomorrow," he said.
Zelensky also emphasized Germany's role in future peace efforts and reconstruction. "I want Germany to be one of the leading nations at the negotiating table, both in diplomacy and in rebuilding," he said.
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's full-scale invasion for more than three years.
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