Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's call to Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, for considering it as opening "Pandora's box," during which Scholz urged Putin to negotiate a fair and lasting peace with Ukraine. During the phone conversation, Scholz emphasized that none of Russia's military objectives had been achieved and that it was necessary to cease the war of aggression against Ukraine and withdraw the troops.
Zelensky underscored that Putin has been trying for decades to avoid changes in his policies, which triggered the current war. According to the Ukrainian president, achieving real peace in the region is crucial. Meanwhile, Putin stated he was willing to negotiate peace on his own terms and with the aim of ensuring Russia's security interests.
Zelensky claims that Putin's approach is known and reiterated that there will be no "Minsk-3," referring to the Minsk agreements that aimed to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Since the situation began in 2014, the conflict in Donbas has escalated for nearly a thousand days, shifting from a frozen state to large-scale war in 2022.
Zelensky pointed out that Scholz's call to Putin could trigger new talks and phone calls, which he considers to be opening Pandora's box. He insisted that Putin is seeking to weaken his isolation and that of Russia by engaging in conversations that do not lead to any concrete solution. In his message to the public, Zelensky urged clarity about the situation and reiterated the need to achieve true peace, distancing from Putin's intentions.
