President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that If Russia were to end the war at this stage, it could not be described as a victory for Vladimir Putin. According to the Ukrainian president, despite the territories it has seized and the huge losses it has suffered, Moscow has not achieved its strategic objective. This assessment echoes a recent interview Zelenskyy gave to CBC News, in which he emphasised that Putin does not want just a few «kilometres» of territory, but control over the whole of Ukraine. The President also stated that, following such heavy human losses in this war, there is no longer a «win-win» scenario, and the primary outcome must be the cessation of hostilities and the preservation of lives.
Key points at a glance:
- Zelenskyy stated that ending the war now would not amount to a victory for Putin.
- The President believes that the Kremlin has not achieved its main objective in Ukraine.
- According to Zelenskyy, Putin fears the return of military personnel to the Russian Federation.
- The President compared the Russian terror to the scale of the 11 September tragedy.
«This is the exact opposite of victory»
Zelenskyy stated that even if Russia were to cease hostilities now, it would be difficult for Putin to present the outcome of the war as having achieved its objectives.
«If Putin stops now, it won’t be a victory. It isn’t a victory. It’s the exact opposite for them,» said the President.
Zelenskyy had previously explained CBC News, who believes that territorial requirements The Kremlin is only part of a broader objective. According to him, it is a mistake to think that the Russian leadership would be satisfied with seizing just a few more regions of Ukraine.
«He doesn’t need kilometres. He needs Ukraine,» Zelenskyy said in an interview. He also stated that Kyiv was prepared to agree to an unconditional ceasefire along the current line of contact, followed by a transition to diplomacy, provided Moscow agreed to this.
Zelenskyy: Putin fears the return of the troops
The President specifically expressed the view that one of the reasons for the Kremlin’s reluctance to end the war is linked to the domestic situation in Russia.
According to him, Putin may fear the return home of large numbers of people with combat experience, who, once the war is over, may start asking questions of the Russian authorities.
«Putin is afraid that the soldiers will return, be angry and turn against him. Just like the Wagner Group,» said Zelenskyy.
The president has expressed a similar view on previous occasions. In June, he said that Putin was «afraid of bringing his army home» without a result that the Kremlin could present as a victory.
The reference to the «Wagnerites» relates to the mutiny by the Wagner Group in June 2023, when columns of mercenaries led by Yevgeny Prigozhin marched towards Moscow. At the time, Zelenskyy described the events as a demonstration of the weakness of the Russian power structure.
Zelenskyy drew a parallel with the 11 September terrorist attacks
The President also addressed the American audience, mentioning terrorist attacks 11 September 2001, the 25th anniversary of which the US marked this month.
Zelenskyy recalled that following the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, the United States responded to the terrorist threat, and NATO allies invoked Article 5 on collective defence for the first time in history. On 11 September 2026, the President had already emphasised that the response at that time demonstrated the need to respond to terrorism.
In a new statement, Zelenskyy drew a parallel with the destruction in Ukraine. According to him, for Americans, the tragedy of 11 September was concentrated in a few locations, whereas Ukraine has been enduring attacks on residential buildings, schools, businesses and infrastructure across the country for years.
That said, such a comparison is a political analogy drawn by Zelenskyy himself, rather than a legal assessment of Russia’s actions as being equivalent to the 11 September terrorist attacks.
The President calls for increased pressure on Russia
Zelenskyy continues to insist that stronger economic and political pressure on Moscow is needed to end the war.
In an interview with the CBC, he explicitly called on the US to introduce tougher sanctions and stated that Washington has sufficient tools to limit Russia’s ability to finance the war.
At the same time, the President confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to enter into negotiations and agree to a ceasefire without preconditions, provided that Russia also agrees to halt hostilities.
According to Zelenskyy, the main outcome of such a move should not be that one of the parties declares itself the victor, but rather that the loss of life comes to an end.
