Zelenskyy calls for tougher sanctions as Ukraine faces critical negotiations with Russia and the United States over the ongoing war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected any proposal to trade territory for peace and is urging the international community to apply stronger pressure on Moscow to halt Russian aggression.
Peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are scheduled in Geneva, with the Kremlin emphasizing that territorial control will be a central point of discussion. Russia is demanding that Ukraine give up the remainder of Donbas, a position Kyiv has firmly opposed.
Zelenskyy cautioned that conceding territory would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to regroup militarily, even as Russian forces suffer heavy monthly losses. He argued that appeasement has historically failed to contain Russian expansion. In a series of posts on X, Zelenskyy called it a “big mistake” to reward an aggressor.
Highlighting Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, as well as Putin’s occupation of parts of Georgia and Chechnya, Zelenskyy said: “Many mistakes were made. That is why I do not want to be the president who repeats the errors of my predecessors or other leaders.”
He added: “I am not just talking about Ukraine. I am speaking about leaders of different countries who allowed an aggressive country like Russia to enter their territory. You cannot stop Putin with kisses or flowers. I never did it and that is not the right way.”
Zelenskyy emphasized that even conceding to Russia’s demands would give Putin the opportunity to rebuild his military while continuing to incur significant losses, which he estimates at 30 to 35 thousand people per month. Instead, the Ukrainian president called for stricter sanctions on Russia and the expulsion of Russians from the United States and Europe.
Despite rising tensions, US President Donald Trump has stated that both sides are eager to reach a final agreement.
This is a big mistake to allow the aggressor to take something. It was a big mistake at the very beginning, starting with 2014. And even before that, during the attack and occupation of parts of Georgia. And even before that, when Chechnya was occupied, with total destruction and…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 16, 2026
