Zelenskyy: We Have Shielded America From Total War

In a recent interview with The New Yorker, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined Ukraine’s position in the ongoing war and shared insights on his upcoming visit to the United States. He emphasized the importance of a strategic approach to negotiations and military operations, particularly in light of the Russian invasion.

On Negotiations

“Putin has zero desire to end the war on any reasonable terms at all. (…) He pretends to open the door to dialogue (…) But it is all just appearance. From our side, we see the game he is playing and we amend our approaches to ending the war,” Zelenskyy stated, underscoring the futility of seeking negotiations under current circumstances.

He further noted, “After the first peace summit, our partners saw that Russia was not prepared for any talks at all—which confirmed my message to them and my insistence that without making Ukraine strong, they will never force Putin to negotiate fairly and on equal terms.”

On the Victory Plan

Zelenskyy highlighted the need for a proactive strategy: “Plan A was proposed before the full-scale war, when we called for two things: preventive sanctions and preventive reinforcement of Ukraine with various weapons. I told our partners, If Ukraine is very strong, nothing will happen. They didn’t listen.”

He introduced a revised approach: “I’m now proposing a new Plan A. (…) If you don’t want this war to drag on, if you do not want Putin to bury us under the corpses of his people, taking more Ukrainian lives in the process, we offer you a plan to strengthen Ukraine.”

On the Possibility of Ukrainian Defeat

Zelenskyy emphasized the broader implications of Ukraine’s struggle for the United States: “I believe that we have shielded America from total war. Here’s another crucial element: this is a war of postponement for the United States. It’s a way to buy time. As far as Russia is concerned, Ukraine does not even need to lose outright for Russia to win. Russia understands that Ukraine is struggling as it is; it already stands excluded from the European Union and NATO, with nearly a third of its territory occupied.” He elaborated, “Russia might decide that’s enough, so it might strike Poland just the same—in response to some provocation from Belarus, for example. And so, after two and a half years of your support and investment—for which we are very grateful—you can multiply them all by zero. America would have to start investing from scratch, and in a war of a totally different calibre. American soldiers would fight in it. Which would all benefit Russia tremendously, I should add.”

Zelenskyy firmly rejected any notion of a peace settlement that would come at Ukraine’s expense: “The idea that the world should end this war at Ukraine’s expense is unacceptable. This kind of scenario would have no basis in international norms, in U.N. statute, in justice. And it wouldn’t necessarily end the war, either.” He stressed the importance of a strong and unified response to ensure stability not only in Ukraine but also in the broader international context.

On the Kursk Operation

Discussing the recent Kursk operation, Zelenskyy noted its immediate effects: “It has already shown some results. It has slowed down the Russians and forced them to move some of their forces to Kursk, on the order of forty thousand troops. Already, our fighters in the east say that they are being battered less frequently.”

He emphasized a critical perception of Putin’s priorities: “Some Russian people could not help but notice how Putin did not run to defend his own land. No, instead he wants to first and foremost look after himself, and to finish off Ukraine. His people are not a priority for him.”

As President Zelenskyy prepares for his visit to the United States, his emphasis on strategic military operations and the need for continued support from Western allies reflects the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces in the war against Russia.