Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is preparing to ignite a “big war” across Europe.
Zelensky argued that Moscow’s recent practice of offering large sums of money to Russian men to sign up for military contracts shows Putin’s reliance on continued fighting to maintain his hold on power.
He added that any move toward mobilization in Russia would reflect Putin’s declining popularity, saying the Russian leader has avoided it so far because it would expose his weakening public support.
“Believe me, they definitely did not want to pay big money for contracts. As much money as they have been paying these years. But they went for it. Imagine what the price of protecting his personal rating is,” he said
“And therefore, if there is mobilization, then this is a challenge to Europe. He will start a big war.”
Zelensky Warns Putin’s Mobilization Could Spark Major War in Europe
According to the President, there is such a risk because Putin needs to “sell” success. In particular, in the war against Ukraine, he has already “sold” everything he could, and now, as Zelensky put it, “the goods are already of poor quality — he is selling lies that he can achieve something in the war against Ukraine.”
“And where can his quick successes be? Look at the map of Europe. Where there are quick successes, he will go there if there is mobilization. That’s for sure. And why should he mobilize millions? There is a great risk that Putin will really go into a world war,” Zelenskyy added.
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Zelensky said he believes Vladimir Putin is personally afraid of a ceasefire because it would be difficult for him to resume fighting afterward.
“We don’t reject any real path to peace. But we believe that only pressure on Russia will work,” he added.
He noted that transitioning from a full-scale war to a ceasefire and then back to large-scale combat would not be easy for Russia, emphasizing that the current conflict cannot be compared to previous operations such as the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO).
“Putin has been offered many times to end the war or at least a ceasefire. He spurned all proposals – ours, America’s. So, it’s only fair Russia bears the war’s full cost,” he said.
“It’s not easy economically, it’s not easy with the society, and it’s not easy with the world. And certainly not easy with those countries that are still shaking Putin’s hand today. That’s why, for now, he chooses war.”
Ukraine to Increase Pressure as Russia Warns of Tomahawk missiles
Zelensky said the escalation can be stopped and called for increased pressure on Russia, arguing that pressure will work once the costs of war outweigh any perceived benefits.
He said a combination of Ukraine’s long-range strikes, strong sanctions, holding the battlefield and defending Ukrainian territory, alongside support for peaceful initiatives, would be effective.
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This comes after Russia warned that it would create “problems” for Europe if U.S. President Donald Trump allows Tomahawk missiles to be sent to Ukraine, according to a senior Russian official.
Earlier this week, Trump said he had “sort of” made up his mind on whether to permit Ukraine’s European allies to supply Kyiv with the subsonic long-range cruise missiles.
Andrei Kartapolov, the head of the Russian parliament’s defense committee, cautioned that Moscow would retaliate against any country that provides the missiles to Ukraine.
“We know these missiles very well, how they fly, how to shoot them down; we worked with them in Syria, so there is nothing new. The only problems will be for those who supply them and those who use them; that’s where the problems will be,” he said.
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