‘If We Lift Sanctions, We Make Putin Stronger’: Zelenskyy Warns Against Easing Pressure on Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that lifting sanctions on Russia would strengthen Vladimir Putin, questioning any easing of pressure on Moscow as the United States pursues talks to end the war.

Speaking to CNN, Zelenskyy said his opposition to sanctions relief reflected concerns about Russia’s ability to continue its aggression, rather than a personal disagreement with US President Donald Trump.

“My attitude to Putin is very clear. I think that if we lift sanctions, we will make him stronger. It’s not something personal between me and President Trump, and of course I’m against any lifting of sanctions,” he said.

CEASEFIRE WITH SECURITY GUARANTEES

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to move towards diplomacy, including through a ceasefire or a freeze in the conflict, provided it received strong guarantees against another Russian attack.

“We can stop the killings. We can freeze the conflict. The only thing that is important is the result,” he said.

He recalled that Ukraine had supported Trump’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire at the beginning of his term, while Russia had not. Despite subsequent American efforts to stop the fighting, he said, Russian attacks continued daily.

“The most important thing, not to give any chance for Russia, for Putin to come back to Ukraine and kill our people,” Zelenskyy said.

His remarks followed US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s talks with Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday. Witkoff described the Russian president as a “humanitarian” over his decision to release 74-year-old American prisoner Stephen Hubbard.

ZELENSKYY POINTS TO KYIV STRIKES

Zelenskyy also cited overnight attacks on Kyiv as evidence that Moscow had not changed its approach to the war.

In a statement on Thursday, he alleged that Russia had fired three ballistic missiles carrying cluster warheads at the Ukrainian capital. He said one struck the historic Pechersk district, damaging monastery buildings, homes, shops, cafés and other civilian infrastructure near the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and Holy Presentation Monastery.

Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately choosing weapons and targets intended to maximise civilian harm, saying there was no military target nearby.

“Russia has not changed the way it wages this war, and it is taking no steps that would signal a genuine desire to end it,” he said.

Asked about Zelenskyy’s assessment that the strikes demonstrated Putin had not changed, Trump offered a brief response.

“We’ll see how it all works out. That’s been happening a lot,” the US president said.

With inputs from ANI