President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained why Russia needs a pause in its war against Ukraine, while Ukraine does not, despite Moscow's claims to the contrary. He said this in an interview with the Financial Times on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of.
He rejected Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's suggestion that Ukraine would use the temporary halt in fighting to regroup for an offensive.
"This is demagoguery and lies. Look who benefits from such statements," the president said .
He emphasized that Moscow mobilizes 40,000 troops a month and loses 35,000.
"They need a pause no less than we do," Zelensky said.
He called "short-sighted" the US belief that Putin would end the war if Ukraine withdrew its troops from Donbas, as demanded by the Russians.
"To be honest, I don't believe that this is all that Russia is demanding. Our withdrawal from Donbas, and then the war will end. Russia is Russia, and, you know, they cannot be trusted," the president said .
He noted that the pressure that U.S. President Donald Trump put on Kyiv to make concessions for peace was much stronger than the pressure on Moscow. But Zelenskiy still hopes that his counterpart in Washington will change his position.
"The war could start again. The ceasefire can be destroyed... We do not need a pause. We need the end of the war," Zelensky added .
