Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called on global leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to take a tough stance against Russia, saying they should clearly tell President Vladimir Putin to end the war.In a post on X sharing excerpts from his interview with CNN, Zelensky said mediation alone may not be enough to stop the conflict. “I think President Trump, President Xi, Prime Minister Modi and other big players in the world have to tell Putin that he has to stop this war. They can’t say to Ukraine, ‘You have to stop the war’. We are defensive. We are not the aggressor,” he said.He also questioned the effectiveness of neutral arbitration, saying, “If you’re mediating, it doesn’t have to feel guilty… If we really want to stop that, I’m not sure powerful countries can be arbitrators.”
‘Global pressure is needed, not compromise’
Zelensky stressed that ending the war requires unified international pressure, rather than compromise-based negotiations. He said, “Together we have to stop Putin. What does it mean to be a great leader? It means stopping war through diplomacy.” He further argued that the presence of foreign troops on the front lines could act as a deterrent against future Russian aggression, warning that without such measures, “no words will stop Putin.”
Ukraine expands defense ties in Middle East
In a separate post, Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s growing defense partnerships, announcing agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE on drone cooperation.“We signed three major security documents… these will translate into many different contracts,” he said. He said Ukraine was offering expertise, training missions and cost-effective drone systems.While cheap interceptors can counter expensive attack drones, he said, “They will destroy it not with a $3-4 million missile, but using a $10,000 interceptor.”Zelensky’s comments come amid concerns that rising tensions in the Middle East could affect Ukraine’s access to critical defense systems. He warned that a prolonged conflict involving Iran could jeopardize the US military aid package, particularly anti-missile systems.Despite this, he expressed gratitude for US support and said that Ukraine is ready to share its defense innovations with the US as well.
