Russian leadership does not want to live without war - Zelensky

The Russian leadership does not want to live without war and sees a democratic and free Ukraine as a threat to their existence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his speech at an annual meeting of French entrepreneurs under the auspices of the MEDEF business association, Ukrinform reports.

"I have devoted several years as president to finding a solution, a peaceful, diplomatic model of coexistence without war. But, unfortunately, the leadership of Russia does not want to live without war. The leadership of Russia considers the free and democratic life of Ukraine as an existential challenge for itself. That is why they want war and destruction. They think that this way they can secure their dictatorship for many years," Zelensky said.

He thanked the people of France and personally President Emmanuel Macron for their support in the fight for freedom, stressing that Macron "was looking for a diplomatic way, looking for steps to stop the war."

At the same time, the head of state noted that Russia's goal is to destroy Ukraine as a democracy, as a social state, as an economic power, a society of educated people who know how to work for their own interests.

Zelensky said he believes in Ukraine's victory and called for everything to be done to achieve it as soon as possible.

"It is important to do everything so that Russia can never again blackmail either Ukraine or France. You don't feel it as much as we do yet. And hopefully the war will not come to your land, but this is it. All this is their plan. Neither any European state, nor Europe in general can be blackmailed with a war, an energy crisis or a food crisis," he said.

On February 24, Russia began a new phase of its eight-year war against Ukraine - a full-scale offensive. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying critical infrastructure and shelling residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers, and ballistic missiles.

Photo: President's Office