Zelenskyy Labels Putin a 'Slave of War' in Munich, Urges Swift Air Defense Delivery

Global - Ekhbary News Agency

Zelenskyy Labels Putin a 'Slave of War' in Munich, Urges Swift Air Defense Delivery

On a prominent global diplomatic stage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as a 'slave of war,' asserting that the Russian leader is incapable of living a normal life due to his persistent obsession with conflict. This forceful declaration came on Saturday during the Munich Security Conference, a key global forum for defense and diplomacy held in Germany, where Zelenskyy seized the opportunity to emphasize the critical necessity of continued international support for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy, who had been attending the forum since Friday, stated unequivocally, 'No one in Ukraine believes that [Putin] will leave our people alone, nor will he leave other European nations alone, because he cannot give up the idea of war. He may see himself as a tsar, but in reality, he is a slave of war.' This metaphorical language was not merely rhetoric but was intended to highlight what Kyiv perceives as Putin's entrenched conflict-driven mindset, an insurmountable obstacle to any genuine peaceful resolution.

In his address, the Ukrainian President vehemently stressed the vital importance of the rapid supply of anti-aircraft missiles to help Ukraine defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks. He revealed the extensive damage inflicted upon his nation's energy infrastructure, asserting, 'Most attacks are directed against our power plants and other highly important infrastructure. Not a single power plant remains in Ukraine that has not been damaged by Russian attacks.' These bombardments have left hundreds of thousands without heating at a time when the country registers sub-zero temperatures, exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis.

Zelenskyy's remarks coincided with Russia's announcement of a new round of talks on February 17 and 18 with representatives from Ukraine and the United States, in an attempt to find a resolution to the conflict, which will soon mark its fourth year. From Munich, Zelenskyy expressed his country's readiness for 'an agreement that brings real peace to Ukraine and Europe.' However, his statements were tinged with caution, particularly regarding potential pressures for concessions.

The Ukrainian leader expressed hope that the US-mediated peace talks next week in Geneva would be 'serious and substantial,' but voiced concern that Ukraine is 'too frequently' being asked to make concessions in negotiations. 'We really hope that next week's trilateral meetings will be serious, substantial, and useful for all of us, but honestly, sometimes it seems that the sides are talking about completely different things,' Zelenskyy stated in his Munich Security Conference address.

Zelenskyy also indicated he felt 'a bit' of pressure from former US President Donald Trump, who had previously stated that Zelenskyy should not miss the 'opportunity to make peace' soon. Zelenskyy quoted Trump as saying, 'Give us a ceasefire. President Trump can do this: pressure Putin; achieve a ceasefire. Then our Parliament will change the law, and we will go to elections.' He conveyed his apprehension that 'Americans frequently return to the topic of concessions, and too often, these concessions are discussed only in the context of Ukraine, not Russia.'

Despite these concerns, Zelenskyy expressed hope that the US would remain involved in the negotiations and that there would be an opportunity for Europe, which he perceives as currently marginalized, to play a larger role. Zelenskyy had previously voiced concerns that the US midterm congressional elections in November might cause a potential Trump administration to focus on domestic political issues in the coming months, potentially reducing its attention to the Ukrainian conflict.

Ukraine and Russia had participated in two recent rounds of Washington-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi, described by both sides as constructive but without achieving any significant breakthrough. Russia stated that its delegation in Geneva would be led by Putin's advisor, Vladimir Medinsky, a change from Abu Dhabi, where the Russian team was led by military intelligence chief Igor Kostiukov. Ukrainian officials had previously criticized Medinsky's handling of negotiations, accusing him of giving history lessons, from a Russian perspective, to the Ukrainian team instead of engaging in substantive discussions.

Ukraine remains steadfast in its rejection of a unilateral withdrawal from any portion of its territory and seeks robust Western security guarantees to deter Russia from relaunching its offensive after any ceasefire. Russia occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukraine's territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, and areas where Moscow-backed separatists had taken control before 2022, making any territorial concessions a red line for Kyiv.

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