Force Russia to make peace, Zelensky urges West

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a strong appeal to Western leaders, urging them to exert pressure on Russia to seek peace through all possible means. During his address in Spain, Zelensky emphasized the need for tangible coercion of Russia, which has been actively seeking to destroy Ukraine and make advancements. He reiterated his stance of not engaging in direct negotiations with Russia until all Russian forces withdraw from Ukrainian territory, including Crimea. However, the current situation indicates that Russia is gaining ground against Ukraine, leading to a shortage of Western-supplied weapons in Kyiv. Zelensky highlighted the significant challenge posed by Russia's deployment of approximately 3,200 guided aerial bombs on Ukraine each month, raising concerns about Ukraine's ability to defend itself effectively. Additionally, he dismissed the idea of inviting Russia to an upcoming peace summit in Switzerland, which is anticipated to involve representatives from more than 90 countries. The summit aims to establish a framework for a just and enduring peace in Ukraine based on 10 demands outlined by Kyiv, including the return of all invaded territory, reparation payments for war-related damages, and the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes. Zelensky urged Western leaders to lift restrictions on donated weapons being used to target internationally recognized Russian territory, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts and pressure on both Russia and their partners to enable Ukraine to defend itself effectively. He also emphasized the necessity for Kyiv to outline its own vision for ending the war as a condition for receiving substantial aid from Western allies. Zelensky's urgency to mobilize international support behind his terms reflects his determination to make them non-negotiable for his allies and maintain a strong stance in negotiations. The upcoming summit in Switzerland presents an opportunity to increase political pressure on the Kremlin, and Zelensky remains hopeful that it will yield positive outcomes for Ukraine.