Zelenskyy says peace depends on pressure on Russia and Ukraine’s strength:
“There are different people around Putin. Half of them want to continue this war, and the other half want to stop it. Businessmen understand that the Russian economy is in a terrible state
If Western countries – Europe, Canada and the United States – do not lift sanctions, increase pressure on the Russian shadow fleet and other sectors, and Ukraine remains strong on the battlefield, we will be closer to peace.
I told this businessman, who came to deliver a message about a potential framework for diplomatic negotiations, that we were ready to talk from the very beginning. We did not want this war and we want to stop it.
We are ready to talk, but we will not give up our territory.”