On the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an interview to the Financial Times. Kyiv speaks of the “beginning of the end” of the war, but neither Moscow nor Washington should expect quick or simplistic solutions. Here are the key takeaways from the interview.
According to Zelensky, Russia and Ukraine are at the “beginning of the end” of the conflict. But to turn this moment into a real breakthrough, Europe must go further. He calls for a precise date for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union — 2027. “I need a date. I am asking for it,” he said.
On the diplomatic front, Moscow is “playing games” with the Americans. Zelensky argues that Vladimir Putin is a “bad actor” and that Russia is primarily trying to buy time. A suspension of hostilities would benefit Moscow as much as Kyiv: Russia is reportedly mobilizing around 40,000 soldiers per month while sustaining roughly 35,000 losses. For the Ukrainian president, this is not about a pause but about a genuine end to the war. “Ukraine needs a ceasefire — yesterday, today, tomorrow.” However, any ceasefire without binding security guarantees would carry a high risk of collapse.
On certain sectors of the southeastern front, Ukrainian forces have reportedly made advances. The restriction on the use of Starlink by Russian forces is said to have contributed to these gains.
Zelensky also rejects a view discussed in parts of the United States: that Putin would end the war if Ukraine ceded the Donbas. “I don’t believe it,” he said. “Russia cannot be trusted.” Ukraine, he added, is close to launching mass production of missiles capable of bypassing Russian air defenses. On February 21, Ukrainian “Flamingo” missiles reportedly struck a factory deep inside Russian territory.
Finally, Zelensky believes that the pressure Donald Trump is exerting on Ukraine is stronger than the pressure he is placing on Russia. He nonetheless hopes that the United States will intensify pressure on Moscow to stop Putin. But, he concludes, he relies first and foremost on Ukrainian citizens, the army, and domestic industrial production.
