The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that until 24 February 2022 he had not believed that a full-scale Russian invasion was imminent, and that the administration of former US President Joe Biden’s refusal to impose pre-emptive sanctions against Russia had been a mistake. The Head of State also expressed the view that Donald Trump’s personal relationship with Vladimir Putin could, in theory, have influenced the Kremlin’s decision to start the war. At the same time, Zelenskyy is convinced that the Russian leader has not abandoned his main objective — establishing control over Ukraine. The President also pointed out that Russia is occupying approximately 18–19% of Ukrainian territory, and drew attention to the humanitarian disaster in the occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region.
- Zelenskyy stated that he did not believe Russia would launch a full-scale invasion.
- The President considers the Biden administration’s decision not to impose pre-emptive sanctions against Russia to be a mistake.
- Zelenskyy suggested that Trump’s personal relationship with Putin might have influenced the outbreak of the war.
- In the occupied town of Oleshky, people – particularly children – are suffering from a shortage of food.
Zelenskyy explained why he did not believe there would be a full-scale invasion
Volodymyr Zelenskyy He returned to the events leading up to the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022. According to the President, it was difficult to believe at the time that Russia would launch such a large-scale war against Ukraine.
The Head of State had previously explained that Western partners had warned Kyiv of the possibility of an attack, but that Ukraine needed not only warnings but also concrete military assistance and decisions capable of deterring the Kremlin.
Zelenskyy was particularly critical of the administration’s policy Joe Biden, which refused to impose further large-scale sanctions against Russia before the invasion began. According to the Ukrainian president, pre-emptive economic pressure could have raised the cost of aggression for Moscow even before Russian troops crossed the Ukrainian border.
Zelenskyy has expressed this view before, notably in an interview with an American podcaster To Lex Friedman, published on 5 January 2025.
Could Trump have prevented the Russian invasion?
Separately, the President of Ukraine commented on the impact Donald Trump on Vladimir Putin and the possibility of preventing a full-scale war. According to Zelenskyy, the friendly personal relations between the American and Russian leaders could, in theory, influence the Kremlin’s decision.
The Ukrainian president emphasised that even in such a scenario, Putin’s strategic plans would remain unchanged. Zelenskyy explained this by pointing out that presidents of democratic states come and go, whilst the Russian leader continues to pursue a long-term policy towards Ukraine.
In Zelenskyy’s view, the problem lies not so much with the US President himself as with the intentions of the Russian leadership.
This approach is in line with the position previously stated by the President of Ukraine: without real pressure and reliable security guarantees, Russia may continue its aggressive policy regardless of diplomatic agreements.
Russia is occupying approximately 19% of Ukrainian territory
Zelenskyy also drew attention to the scale of the Russian occupation, noting that approximately 18–19% of Ukraine’s territory is under Moscow’s control. This estimate broadly corresponds to the publicly available data from the DeepState analytical project.
According to figures published by Russia Matters on 21 October 2026, Russia controls around 117,000 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. This figure includes Crimea and the areas of the Donbas that had been captured even before the full-scale invasion began.
According to analysts’ estimates, over the past few months changes to the front line remained relatively minor, despite the intense fighting. Ukraine continues to insist on territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
In the occupied town of Oleshky, people are left without food and with no means of evacuation
The President described one of the most pressing humanitarian issues as the situation in Oleshky in the Kherson region, which has been under Russian occupation since February 2022.
According to estimates by Ukrainian officials and humanitarian organisations, there are still around 1,700–2,000 civilians in the town, including children. People are suffering from a shortage of food, medicines and clean water, and are unable to leave the town safely.
In October 2026, international journalists published accounts from people who had managed to evacuate from the city. They spoke of hunger, a lack of adequate medical care and dangerous living conditions.
The Vatican has joined the efforts to resolve the humanitarian crisis. Pope Leo XIV raised the issue of a ceasefire in the Oleshky area during talks with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian side is seeking to ensure that conditions are in place for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians. As of 22 October, there have been no reports of a fully operational safe humanitarian corridor.
Zelenskyy has identified Putin’s main objective in the war against Ukraine
Commenting on the prospects of the war coming to an end, the Ukrainian president expressed his conviction that Vladimir Putin is seeking not only to hold on to the territories he has already occupied. According to Zelenskyy’s assessment, the Russian leader has not abandoned his intention to establish control over the whole of Ukraine.
He also emphasised that political changes in the United States do not, in themselves, eliminate the threat of further Russian aggression.
«I believe it doesn’t matter who exactly is president, as long as Putin remains in power,» Zelenskyy said in a widely reported statement.
The President of Ukraine has previously stated that, in order to bring the war to a lasting end, international security guarantees and increased pressure on Russia are required. Kyiv continues to support diplomatic efforts to bring the fighting to an end, but insists that any future agreements must prevent a repeat of the Russian invasion.
