Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian President Vladimir Putin has no interest in negotiations right now and warned that diesel deals could lead to broader sanctions relief.
Speaking with reporters in Brussels, Zelenskyy accused Putin of “playing word games” by saying Russia was responding to events. He called that approach a travesty of any genuine desire to end the war.
“Putin doesn’t want negotiations right now – in any format,” he said in excerpts shared on X.
Zelenskyy rejected diesel agreements, arguing that concessions would not stop there.
“We can’t accept diesel deals, because gas deals will come next,” he said.
After gas, he predicted, sanctions would be lifted on other sectors, eventually reaching the banking system, specific individuals and the chemical industry. He also warned of risks surrounding frozen assets.
“If I don’t defend that through diplomacy – who will do it for us?” he said.
Starlink Slowdown
Zelenskyy said Starlink had not been switched off but had operated at reduced speed, leaving Ukrainian forces unable to intercept some jet-powered Shahed drones.
Ukraine does not use Starlink for strikes inside Russia, he said. It relies on the system to intercept drones attacking civilians, and losing that capability was “very painful and frustrating,” he said.
The restrictions also prevented medium-range strikes against Russian military targets in occupied Ukrainian territory, according to his account.
Starlink also supports drones delivering food and water to troops who spend weeks or months at the front, Zelenskyy said. He did not specify whether those deliveries had been disrupted.
Service speeds were being restored but had not fully returned to their previous level, he said. The excerpts did not identify who imposed the restrictions or when.
His account of the Starlink restrictions and their military effects was not independently verified.
Warning to Europe
Zelenskyy accused Putin of seeking to destroy Ukraine and rejecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity and existence as a country and a nation.
He questioned whether control of eastern Ukraine would satisfy the Russian president, pointing to Russia’s push toward Kyiv when the full-scale invasion began.
“Without the capital, there is no state,” he said.
Zelenskyy also accused Russia of testing drones against European countries, including NATO members. He argued that those countries had so far sought to avoid escalation while facing relatively small numbers of drones.
Their response would change if they faced ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and thousands of drones, he warned. Ukraine faced 1,000 drones the previous day, according to Zelenskyy.
Those claims about drone attacks were not independently verified.
Zelenskyy also referred to comments from the American side that speaking with him was difficult and dealing with Putin was easier.
“Of course,” he said. The excerpts did not identify who made that assessment.
