Zelensky fires back at West's inconsistency: "Putin smells weakness and preys on it"

Stay updated on the war in Ukraine with our coverage.

In a conversation on New Year's Day, Zelensky underlined that the West has "failed to maintain urgency in providing aid to Kyiv", and inflicted Ukrainians with "an existential threat". He stressed his intentions to rectify both circumstances.

"Perhaps, we didn't achieve successes as comprehensively as the world might have anticipated in 2023. Perhaps progress has been slower than initially imagined," he confessed. He further asserted that the notion of Putin's triumph that some people persist to hold is merely a misguided belief.

"In reality, Russian forces are still encountering casualties in locations such as Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. Thousands upon thousands of deceased Russian soldiers were abandoned and left behind," stated the president.

All the while, he accentuated that this wasn't the sole achievement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2023. He mentioned that Putin's military failed to invade a single major city during the year. Yet, Ukraine managed to disrupt the Russian blockade of the Black Sea, and now successfully dispatches millions of tons of grain via a newly opened route that orbits the southern coast of Ukraine.

Aware of the significance of resource mobilization in the ongoing war, Zelensky urges Kyiv's allies not to succumb to fatalism - the belief that a victory against Moscow is futile. He encourages them to continually provide financial aid and weapons in large volumes.

He reiterated that by aiding Ukraine, Europe indirectly defends itself from Russian hostility. "By contributing funds or weapons, you're essentially backing yourselves. You're safeguarding the future of your children, not just ours," he cautioned.

Zelensky warned that if Ukraine falls, Putin would certainly advance his war efforts towards the West. "Putin, just like a predator, can detect weakness. He identifies potential prey and his ensuing domination feeds this sensation of power. And without reluctance, he will devour you for lunch together with the European Union, NATO, freedom, and democracy," he cautioned the Ukrainian leaders.

He urged Europeans to advocate for the unblocking of aid for Ukraine in Washington "for their own benefit". "Several European countries have launched preparations for the potential of a Russian attack on their territories... including those that were never a part of the USSR," he reported.

Zelensky emphasized that at present, there's no inclination within Moscow to initiate peace talks. Rather, he observes a resurgence of Russian terror.

He added that if Russia exhibits any intent to stall the conflict, it's only a strategy to replenish their missile resources, ammunition, and soldiers. "They need this pause to regain their strength. And when they have, they'll swiftly alter the progression of this war," he predicted.

Zelensky decided against revealing the Ukrainian army's strategies for 2024 - maintaining that excessive information leakage from the army hindered the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023 - but hinted that focus would shift towards Crimea. The peninsula is set to endure further isolation and Russian bases located there will be targeted for destruction.