Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “slave to war” during a speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. He warned that Putin will remain a threat to Ukraine and Europe if he is not stopped on the battlefield.
Zelensky said every power plant in Ukraine has been damaged by Russian strikes, leaving millions facing cuts to heating and electricity in winter. He spoke days before the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, which has killed hundreds of thousands, destroyed towns and cities, and forced millions of Ukrainians from their homes.
He compared Putin to Adolf Hitler and said the Russian leader may see himself as a tsar but is trapped in his own war. Zelensky added that no one in Ukraine believes Putin will allow Ukrainians to live freely or end Moscow’s aggression voluntarily.
The Ukrainian leader stressed that Kyiv is doing “everything” to end the conflict, including taking part in talks mediated by the United States in Geneva next week. However, he said Russia continues to demand that Ukraine give up occupied eastern regions, a condition Kyiv rejects.
Zelensky warned Western governments that delaying support only helps Russia, noting that weapons technology is developing faster than political decisions to supply arms and air defenses. He urged Europe and its allies to provide strong, long-term security guarantees so that Russia cannot expand the war beyond Ukraine.
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