Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a press conference in South Africa on Thursday, complained about the international community failing to exert pressure on Russia to put an end to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Accompanied by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zelenskyy stated, “I don’t see any strong pressure on Russia or any new sanctions packages against Russia’s aggression.”
Zelenskyy noted that Trump, the previous US president, had before threatened action in case Moscow denied a ceasefire, and called on the global community, specifically the United States, to take the leading role in calling for peace. “We think that the stronger pressure we exert on the Russian Federation, the closer our sides will come,” Zelenskyy said.
He accepted that even to sit down and speak with Russia after more than three years of war constituted a large concession already, emphasizing the extent of devastation and loss that Ukraine has endured. While Zelenskyy assured that further concessions could be negotiated, he made it clear that any advances would have to first start with an immediate ceasefire, which he called a move of “political goodwill” on the part of all concerned.
The Ukrainian president also underlined restoring children kidnapped by Russia and Ukraine’s determination for peace, mentioning a memorandum inked with America on mineral collaboration after deleting paragraphs incompatible with Ukraine’s constitution. He called on the results of the latest London talks to be brought before Trump for assessment.
Zelenskyy cut short his South African visit after a fatal overnight missile attack on Kyiv left eight dead and dozens injured. He described the attack as “one of the most difficult and impudent” in recent times. “If Russia is genuinely serious about a ceasefire, then it needs to stop these giant attacks. Ukrainians are getting tired we are the ones under siege,” he concluded.
