Ukraine expects the G20 countries to take a strong and united position regarding Russia’s attempts to drag out the war.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his nightly video address, Ukrinform reports.
He recalled that two weeks ago in Washington it was stated that by this time the Russians should be ready for real negotiations — a meeting at the level of leaders.
Ukraine, Zelensky stressed, is certainly ready for this. Russia, for its part, is doing only one thing — investing in continuing the war.
“All their signals point to this. Now, during his visit to China, Putin will again try to wriggle out of it. That’s his sport number one,” he said.
He emphasized that everyone in the world called for a ceasefire and insisted that the war must end, including China, India, and other countries now taking part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit: Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. Almost everyone else in the world also supports ending the war, Zelensky added. He noted the principled statement made today by the Pope.
“The only one who wants war is Russia,” Zelensky said. “Therefore, we will continue to apply pressure – it is Russia that must be pressured. We expect that no one will tolerate prolonging the war. We are counting on a strong position from the United States, Europe, and the G20 countries. This war only adds instability to global processes. Russia must pay for this – and it will.”
On August 19, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration was working to arrange direct talks between Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin to reach agreements on ending the war.
On August 28, the Russian army carried out a massive missile-and-drone strike on Kyiv, killing 25 people and injuring dozens.
On August 30, Russian forces conducted a combined massive attack on the Dnipropetrovsk region, damaging infrastructure.
On August 31, Russia launched a large-scale strike-drone attack on the Odesa region, damaging, among other things, energy infrastructure and leaving more than 29,000 customers without power.
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
Source: Ukraine counting on strong G20 stance against Russia's attempts to prolong war — Zelensky
