Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Russian leader Vladimir Putin effectively launched World War III when he ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In a new interview with BBC published Monday, ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Zelensky said: “I believe that Putin has already started it. The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him.”
Zelensky argued that Moscow’s ambitions extend beyond territorial expansion, claiming Russia seeks to impose its own way of life on other nations and undermine the sovereign choices of their citizens.
He also took a firmer stance on Ukraine’s territorial integrity, distancing himself from earlier suggestions that land concessions might be considered during peace negotiations. Zelensky rejected the idea of surrendering roughly 20 percent of the Donetsk region, along with occupied areas in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, warning that such a move would amount to abandoning hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians living there.
“I don’t look at it simply as land. I see it as abandonment — weakening our positions, abandoning our people,” he said, cautioning that any withdrawal could divide Ukrainian society.
Although he had previously floated the possibility of allowing Ukrainians to decide on territorial concessions through a referendum, Zelensky now insists Kyiv will not cede territory as negotiations remain stalled and proposed Western-backed security guarantees are yet to be clarified.
He expressed skepticism that concessions would secure lasting peace, suggesting they would instead give Moscow time to regroup and rebuild military strength — a concern echoed by some European leaders who fear Russia could pose a broader threat to the continent in the coming years.
Turning to the United States, Zelensky emphasized that long-term security guarantees should be rooted in institutions rather than individual political figures. Referencing support from the U.S. Congress, he noted that while leaders such as Donald Trump may change, institutions endure.
Trump has previously pledged to end the war swiftly and has advocated negotiations that could involve Ukraine relinquishing parts of the Donbas region. However, despite intermittent talks, no ceasefire has been reached.
On the battlefield, Zelensky struck a defiant tone, rejecting suggestions that Ukraine is on the verge of defeat. In a separate interview with Agence France-Presse, he maintained that Ukraine is “definitely not losing” the war, though he acknowledged the heavy human toll and the need for sustained international military support.
He reiterated that restoring Ukraine’s internationally recognized 1991 borders would represent not only victory but justice, while cautioning that any attempt to reclaim territory too quickly could result in devastating casualties.
“What is land without people? Honestly, nothing,” Zelensky said.
