You wanted to wipe us off the map,” Zelensky: Russia is losing influence on the international stage

Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply criticized Vladimir Putin through a video message, saying that the Russian president is relying on the exhaustion of Ukraine and its allies from the conflict.

“Putin hopes that we are tired. We know that he is mortal,” the Ukrainian president declared.

Zelensky addressed the Kremlin chief directly, emphasizing that Russia’s objective was the occupation of all of Ukraine. According to him, the result has been quite different: Moscow has lost its fleet, refineries, and revenues, while an entire generation of Russians has been sent to war. “You wanted to take all of Ukraine, all of our land. Instead, you lost your refineries, your fleet, your revenues, and an entire generation that you sent into the meat grinder,” he said.

The Ukrainian president also accused Russia of having aimed to erase Ukraine from the map, but underlined that now it is Moscow itself that is losing influence on the international stage.

At the end of the message, Zelensky again attacked the Russian leadership, saying: “For 27 years, the leader of Russia has spoken about greatness, while Russians have waited in line for gasoline.”