Zelenskyy Questions Sanctions Policy in CNN Interview
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly questioned the United States' approach to sanctions against Russia, stating that lifting them would strengthen Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to CNN, Zelenskyy clarified his position was not personal toward US President Donald Trump but was focused on preventing Putin from gaining additional strength.
Zelenskyy told the network he is "against any lifting of sanctions." He emphasized that the primary objective must be to stop the violence and secure a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. "We can stop the killings. We can freeze the conflict. The only thing that is important is the result," Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president outlined his proposed path forward, suggesting a shift from wartime operations to diplomacy. "We have to move from the wartime, we have to move to a diplomatic way of how to get to the real end of this war, how to get peace," he stated. He called for a ceasefire or a frozen conflict accompanied by strong security guarantees to prevent Russia from returning to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy argued that giving any opportunity to Putin would allow Russia to continue killing Ukrainian people. "The most important thing, not to give any chance for Russia, for Putin to come back to Ukraine and kill our people," he said.
Allegations of US Policy Shift
Zelenskyy’s comments appeared to address recent diplomatic developments involving US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Zelenskyy alleged that Witkoff’s description of Vladimir Putin as a "humanitarian" following the release of American prisoner Stephen Hubbard constituted a climbdown in the US stance on Russia.
The Ukrainian president cited recent Russian military actions to argue that Moscow has not changed its methods or shown a desire to end the war. He pointed to attacks on Kyiv, specifically noting three ballistic missiles with cluster warheads that struck the Pechersk district and damaged civilian infrastructure.
Zelenskyy noted that while his administration supported Trump’s initial proposal for an unconditional ceasefire at the beginning of his term, Russia did not comply. He added that when Trump later moved to stop the killings, Russia continued its attacks. "Russia is continuing now to kill us each day," Zelenskyy said.
Trump Maintains Neutral Stance
US President Donald Trump maintained a neutral position regarding Zelenskyy’s claims and the broader sanctions debate. When asked about the situation by reporters, Trump declined to offer a detailed rebuttal or endorsement of the Ukrainian president's views.
"We'll see how it all works out," Trump told reporters, indicating an open-ended approach to the ongoing negotiations and policy decisions regarding Russia.