Zelensky Fires Back: If Trump Can Show Political Will, Why Not Putin?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken a sharp jab at both the Kremlin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, questioning Moscow’s true intentions in the ongoing war and calling out President Vladimir Putin’s reluctance to engage in genuine peace talks.
In a recent address, Zelensky responded to Lavrov’s insult where the Russian diplomat labeled him “pathetic” following Zelensky’s earlier claim that Putin had sent “stand-in props” to Turkey instead of real negotiators.
“If I’m so ‘pathetic,’ then why is Putin the one dodging real negotiations?” Zelensky asked pointedly. “Why did he propose direct talks and then refuse to follow through?”
Zelensky argued that the Russian president is not truly interested in a ceasefire. “If he wanted a ceasefire, he would have called for one. He has the power to say, ‘Let the ceasefire begin,’ but he won’t,” the Ukrainian leader stated.
Pivoting to U.S. politics, Zelensky contrasted Putin’s stance with that of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed willingness to help mediate peace. “Trump has shown political will,” Zelensky noted. “Why can’t Putin?”
His remarks underscore growing frustration in Kyiv over what many see as Russia’s insincere gestures toward diplomacy, even as the war drags on and civilian lives remain in constant jeopardy.
Zelensky’s comments come amid heightened global attention on Ukraine’s fight to preserve its sovereignty and serve as a challenge to world leaders: if Trump is ready to talk peace, what’s stopping Putin?
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Zelensky Fires Back: If Trump Can Show Political Will, Why Not Putin?