Russia intends to prolong the war – Zelensky

He made this remark to journalists during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) in Rome, Ukrinform reports.

“Our intelligence and that of our partners have full information indicating that Russia intends to continue dragging out this war. Putin rejects every opportunity to establish a genuine ceasefire. He does not want real peace. Putin is addicted to war and killing, and only real force can compel him to break this dependency. That is why our defense in Ukraine must be strong enough,” Zelensky emphasized.

According to him, strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and sanctions against Russia were key topics during today’s meetings in Rome.

“Most of the meetings were dedicated to ensuring that global sanctions against Russia are strong enough. Sanctions must also target all those who are actively aiding Russia. We discussed this issue in detail as well,” the President underscored.

He noted that during both the Ukraine Recovery Conference and the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, discussions also focused on funding for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

“Our servicemen need to feel confident. We talked about weapons production, and there will be more investments in manufacturing, particularly of drones,” Zelensky added.

As previously reported, the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference is taking place in Rome over two days, gathering nearly 5,000 participants. Since 2022, URC has been held annually in different cities, including Lugano, London, and Berlin. It is regarded as the most significant international event dedicated to Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and modernization.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine