Zelenskyy Criticizes Putin as Cowardly, Unwilling to Settle Peace Through Face-to-Face Meetings

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Kyiv, Friday, August 22/PHOTO via X @ZelenskyyUa

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia will do everything possible to prevent a meeting between him and Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy believes Putin is cowardly because he is not ready to meet him.

Zelenskyy urged Ukraine's allies to impose new sanctions on Moscow if it does not show a commitment to peace.

Speaking at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said they had discussed security guarantees for Ukraine from other countries.

The Ukrainian president said such guarantees should be similar to NATO's Article 5, which considers an attack on one alliance member an attack on all.

"This is the beginning of a major effort, and it is not easy, because the guarantees include what our partners can provide to Ukraine, as well as what the Ukrainian army should look like, and where we can find opportunities for the army to maintain its strength," Zelenskyy said, as reported by Reuters on Friday, August 22.

He also called on his country's allies to pressure Russia to "put it in at least a minimally productive position."

Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked Putin to meet with him. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the Russian president agreed to such a meeting in a phone call with him during a visit by European leaders to Washington.

"Russia is doing everything they can to prevent that meeting from taking place," Zelenskyy said.

"Unlike Russia, Ukraine is not afraid to meet with leaders," he said.