Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday called on global leaders, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to take a firmer stand against Russia, saying they must clearly tell President Vladimir Putin to end the war.In a post on X sharing excerpts from his interview with CNN, Zelenskyy said mediation alone may not be enough to stop the conflict. “I think that President Trump, President Xi, Prime Minister Modi, and other big players in the world have to tell Putin he has to stop this war. They can’t tell Ukraine ‘You have to stop the war’. We are defending. We are not aggressors,” he said.He also questioned the effectiveness of neutral mediation, stating, “If you are mediating, he doesn’t feel guilt… If we truly want to stop him, I am not sure that powerful countries can be mediators.”
‘Global pressure needed, not compromise’
Zelenskyy stressed that ending the war requires unified international pressure rather than compromise-based dialogue. “All together, we must stop Putin. What does it mean to be a great leader? It means stopping the war through diplomacy,” he said. He further argued that the presence of foreign troops along the frontlines could act as a deterrent against future Russian aggression, warning that without such measures, “no words will stop Putin.”
Ukraine expands defence ties in Middle East
In a separate post, Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s growing defence partnerships, announcing agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE on drone cooperation.“We signed three big security documents… These will translate into many different contracts,” he said, adding that Ukraine is offering expertise, training missions and cost-effective drone systems.He noted that cheaper interceptors could counter expensive attack drones, saying, “They will destroy it using not a $3-4 million missile, but a $10,000 interceptor.”Zelenskyy’s remarks come amid concerns that escalating tensions in the Middle East could affect Ukraine’s access to critical defence systems. He warned that a prolonged conflict involving Iran could put US military aid packages at risk, particularly anti-missile systems.Despite this, he expressed gratitude for American support and said Ukraine is open to sharing its defence innovations with the US as well.