The Ukrainian president told Sky News’ chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay there are some world leaders who will only want to speak to the Russian president so they can be on the front pages of the newspapers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin fuels division within Europe “like an animal”, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned.
Speaking to Sky News’s chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay, the Ukrainian president described his Russian counterpart as “a killer” and “a terrorist”.
He said when world leaders are afraid, they communicate with their countries and other leaders and “divide the unity in Europe”.
“Putin understands this and fuels it like an animal,” he said.
Asked if it was unhelpful when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke directly with Mr Putin last month, Mr Zelenskyy said he did not support it.
“It wasn’t a surprise to me as he said he wants to speak and to understand what Putin is thinking about, but I said I cannot support this as it opens this new page – this Pandora’s box,” he said.
He said there are some world leaders who will only want to speak to Mr Putin so they can be on the front pages of the newspapers.
“Don’t open Pandora’s box, because if you open it, other leaders will talk to him to be on the papers and say they can manage it with Putin,” he warned.
“No. You can’t manage with the killer if you’re weak. You can’t do it. For him, you are nothing. He respects only power, and you have to be very strong.”
