Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a forthright assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin is apprehensive about the potential outcomes of an impending peace summit. Speaking ahead of the international gathering due to convene in Switzerland from June 15-16, Zelenskyy suggested that Putin’s fear is rooted in the summit’s potential to strip him of his ability to mislead the international community.
“The world is capable of forcing Russia into peace and into compliance with international security norms. Russia has nothing to oppose the world majority,” Zelenskyy stated, underscoring his conviction that global majority sentiment is against the war.
The Ukrainian President also issued a challenge to leaders who have yet to confirm their attendance at the peace summit. “The Peace Summit is a format that will not allow Putin to lie anymore. And without his lies, he is absolutely nothing. Tell me what those who don’t join are afraid of? They’re afraid of losing something. Afraid of losing even their relationship with today’s Kremlin. That doesn’t help end the war,” he said.
The June summit is set to take place at a resort above Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland, with 50 states having confirmed participation, including the heads of the Council of Europe, the European Council, and the European Commission. Zelenskyy’s remarks were made during a visit to the Kharkiv region, where he observed the damage from a recent Russian missile strike that killed at least seven civilians.
“Today the situation there is stable and under control. The enemy has been stopped and the defence forces are planning and conducting offensive assault operations to restore the lost positions,” said Ihor Prokhorenko of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
This sentiment of control contrasts with reports suggesting Putin’s readiness to cease hostilities, albeit under conditions that would recognize recent Russian gains on the battlefield. According to sources who spoke to Reuters, Putin is both willing to prolong the fight indefinitely and to agree to a ceasefire to “freeze the war,” expressing frustration at what he perceives as Western obstacles to peace talks.
Relevant articles:
– Putin afraid of what peace summit can achieve: Zelenskyy, euronews.com, 05/25/2024
– Senate confirms 200th judge of Biden’s presidency as Democrats place renewed emphasis on judicial picks after Trump, Yahoo News UK, 05/25/2024
– Zelenskyy: Putin is powerless without lies, fears Peace Summit outcomes, Ukrainska Pravda, 05/24/2024
– Ukraine-Russia war: Latest updates, Sky News, 05/23/2024
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