In a recent interview with the BBC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin effectively triggered World War III when he launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“I believe that Putin has already started it. The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him,” Zelensky said in the interview, published Monday on the eve of the invasion’s fourth anniversary.
Zelensky argued that Moscow’s ambitions extend beyond mere territorial gains, asserting that Russia aims to impose its way of life on other nations and undermine the choices people have freely made.
He also took a firmer stance on Ukraine’s territorial integrity, distancing himself from earlier remarks about potential land concessions in peace talks. Zelensky rejected any notion of surrendering roughly 20 percent of the Donetsk region, as well as occupied areas in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, warning that doing so would abandon hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and weaken Kyiv’s position.
“I don’t look at it simply as land. I see it as abandonment — weakening our positions, abandoning our people,” he said, cautioning that territorial concessions could divide Ukrainian society.
While Zelensky had previously suggested Ukrainians might vote on territorial compromises via a referendum, he now insists Kyiv will not yield territory as negotiations stall and Western-backed security guarantees remain uncertain. He also expressed doubt that concessions would bring lasting peace, suggesting they would merely give Russia time to regroup.
Zelensky echoed concerns voiced in Europe, including by German officials, that Russia could pose a broader threat to the continent in the coming years if it rebuilds its military strength.
Turning to the United States, Zelensky stressed that long-term security guarantees should rely on institutions, not individual leaders, citing support from Congress rather than trusting a single president. He referenced former President Donald Trump’s push for rapid negotiations involving Donbas concessions, noting that no ceasefire has been achieved despite intermittent talks.
On the battlefield, Zelensky struck a defiant tone, rejecting claims that Ukraine is near defeat. He emphasized that the country is fighting for independence and will ultimately restore its territorial integrity, while acknowledging the high human cost of accelerated offensives.
“What is land without people? Honestly, nothing,” he said, stressing that rushing to reclaim territory could lead to devastating casualties.
In a separate interview with Agence France-Presse, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine is “definitely not losing” the war, though he admitted that victory will be costly and reliant on continued international support. He called for more weapons and aid from allies, emphasizing that restoring Ukraine’s internationally recognized 1991 borders would represent both victory and justice.