In a fiery outburst following high-stakes talks in Geneva between Russia and Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky unleashed his frustration on Moscow. The Ukrainian leader made it clear on social media that ending the war doesn’t require delving into ‘historical nonsense,’ accusing Russia of using history as a delaying tactic.
The Geneva meeting on Wednesday brought representatives from both nations to the table amid ongoing conflict. But Zelensky wasted no time dismissing any prolonged historical debates. Posting on X, he stated, ‘I don’t need historical nonsense to end this war and move towards diplomacy because it’s just a delaying tactic.’
Drawing from personal experience, Zelensky highlighted his deep knowledge of Russia. ‘I’ve read just as many history books as Putin, and I’ve learned a lot. I know their country better than they know Ukraine because I’ve been to Russia, to many cities, and I know many people there. They’ve never been to Ukraine as often. They only went to big cities. I went to small towns, from north to south, everywhere.’
He emphasized understanding the Russian mindset but refused to waste time on it. ‘I know how they think, that’s why I don’t want to waste time on all this. It’s about them. They decided to build such a system. Russians decided to change themselves.’
With lives at stake in this massive war against Ukraine, Zelensky urged focus on practical solutions. ‘This is our life. I just want to talk to them about what I think is the most successful way to solve it. I mean, end this war as soon as possible, so I only want to talk about such things.’
Zelensky also addressed international efforts, noting discussions between the US, some Europeans, NATO, and Russia on a new document. ‘When they have such a document, they can discuss everything, but for me, it’s important that they discuss our potential place in NATO with us, not just with Russians, because it’s about us. But they can do it without us too. Maybe we won’t know anything. In any case, if anyone is surprised, we’ll react to it.’
The remarks underscore Ukraine’s impatience for concrete progress as the conflict drags on, prioritizing swift resolution over rhetoric.