Russia is preparing for a “big war” in Europe as soon as 2029, Volodymyr Zelensky warned in an urgent message to Ukraine’s allies.
In a message on
He wrote: “Given the situation on the battlefield, we do not see that Russia wants to stop.
“The problem is that when we look at the Russian military industry, we see that they are increasing their production. In our opinion, they want to continue this war.
“We think that if we push hard, the Russians will need a break. But we have to recognize that they want a big war, they are preparing to start such a big war on the European continent in 2029 or 2030 – in this period.”
Zelensky continued: “I think we have to think about how to stop them now in Ukraine. But also to do everything to reduce their capabilities. Not to give them money, which they can still get from energy. And not to give them weapons.”
It comes as the EU examines how to get more money for Ukraine, either by seizing frozen Russian assets, raising funds on the capital markets, or letting some of the EU’s 27 countries raise the money themselves.
Russian President Vladimir Putin “thinks he can outlast us” in the battle for Ukraine’s future, almost four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighboring country, Ursula von der Leyen said.
“And this is a clear miscalculation,” said the President of the European Commission. “Now is therefore the time to unlock, with new impetus, Putin’s cynical attempt to buy time and bring him to the negotiating table.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said on Thursday that Ukraine would have to negotiate with Russia “sooner or later” and claimed that Kiev’s negotiating position would become worse by the day.
Moscow, whose forces are currently trying to take control of the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, has accused Ukrainian officials of refusing to take part in peace talks. In response, Kiev says Moscow’s demand that Ukraine hand over occupied land as part of a peace deal is unacceptable and amounts to surrender.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia remained open to a political and diplomatic settlement and wanted peace.
His comments follow stalled US-led peace efforts, with no progress since Trump and Putin held talks in Alaska in August.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 20 to discuss a possible new summit, days after it was announced by Trump following a phone call with Putin.
Trump then said he had canceled a future summit. The US president has backed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine with armed forces in their current positions.
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