Zelenskyy slams Putin, warns Russians about war's consequences

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply criticized Russia's ongoing attacks, labeling them as "open terrorist aggression" against Ukraine and its people. He vowed that Ukraine's response would be "completely just" and strategically designed to undermine Russia's state apparatus and its capacity to continue the war.

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Russia continues its open terrorist aggression against Ukraine, against Ukrainians. Of course, we will respond to all these Russian attacks completely justly. And we do so by, first of all, making the Russian state system suffer, as well as Russia's ability to prolong this war.

Zelenskyy specifically addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin, dismissing his public assurances of control. "No matter what Putin says on television about having everything under control... the Russians themselves standing in queues for gasoline... can see that their 'three-day war' is now in its fifth year," Zelenskyy stated. He pointed to fuel shortages in Russia, even in an oil-producing nation, as a direct consequence of the war and a testament to Ukraine's effective response.

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No matter what Putin says on television about having everything under control, that he supposedly has gasoline and that Russian ministers are supposedly competent enough. No, the Russians themselves who stand in queues for gasoline in various regions of Russia can see that their 'three-day war' is now in its fifth year and has reached a point where even an oil state, a gas station, as Russia was once called, now has gasoline shortages. This is a direct consequence of the war. One of its consequences. And an example of how Ukraine responds. Precisely. Not like terrorists. We are bringing the war back to Russia and doing everything possible to make it as difficult as possible to continue the occupation of our country.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Ukraine is "bringing the war back to Russia" and making it increasingly difficult for Moscow to sustain its occupation. He highlighted Russia's persistent focus on Donbas, noting that the Russian military has been given numerous deadlines to capture the Donetsk region without success. Zelenskyy suggested that if Putin is willing to sacrifice more soldiers, the millions of unmobilized Russians should consider their own future.

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If Putin wants to sacrifice another million of his soldiers to continue hitting this wall, then a million Russians who are not yet mobilized in the Russian army and who are arguing in queues for gasoline should think about what awaits them next.

Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine has presented multiple proposals to end the war, all of which Russia has rejected. He indicated that Russia's recent actions demonstrate a clear desire to continue fighting, necessitating further obstacles to its war efforts. The article also notes that Putin himself has recently acknowledged some issues, including fuel shortages, though he described them as "not critical," and pledged to increase air defense production and accelerate refinery repairs.

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We have already made every proposal to end this war, and Russia rejects it every time. Recently, a clear Russian desire to continue the fight was expressed again. Therefore, there must be as many obstacles as possible to its desire to continue waging war.