Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing a challenging moment as the world shifts its focus to a new conflict in Iran. This change comes at a tough time for Zelenskyy, who is already struggling to keep Ukraine’s plight in the global spotlight. His concerns were heightened by the fact that Donald Trump, the former U.S. president and a key player on the world stage, is now paying attention to a different crisis.
In a critical day for Zelenskyy, he met with British opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street, followed by a NATO summit in The Hague. During a recent conversation with him, it became clear that he has two pressing issues on his mind.
First, Zelenskyy expressed concern over NATO’s proposed spending pledge of 5% of GDP by 2035. He believes this timeline is too slow, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin could build a new army within five years. Zelenskyy fears that Putin may test NATO’s Article 5, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all, by potentially launching an attack on a NATO country.
Second, Zelenskyy criticized the current sanctions against Russia, stating they are ineffective. He pointed out that countries, including the UK, are still allowing dual-use components that can be used in drones and missiles to reach Russian hands. He urged for stricter measures to prevent this from happening.
Zelenskyy remains firm in his stance that there will be no negotiations without a ceasefire. The situation in Ukraine is still dire, and after three-and-a-half years of conflict, the fighting continues. Despite these challenges, Zelenskyy presents himself as a determined leader, committed to seeing Ukraine through this difficult time.