Putin must pay for rebuilding war-torn Ukraine: Zelensky slams Russian leader

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky unleashed a biting critic against Russian President Vladimir Putin and is holding the latter responsible for the destruction being unleashed by the current war. Zelensky stated that Putin will be financially responsible for restoring Ukraine. The stern pronouncement has been made at an appropriate moment as speculations around the possibility of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are heating up.

Since February 2022's Russian full-scale invasion, Ukraine has been hugely damaged. Cities are destroyed, infrastructure has collapsed, and there are millions of displaced people. Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson remain occupied by Russia, while Crimea has been occupied since 2014. Ukraine asserts that these countries were illegally occupied and that Moscow will have to pay for the damage. According to the World Bank, reconstructing Ukraine would cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

Peace negotiations and escalating tensions

Zelensky's call for restitution complicates continued diplomatic talks. Former President of the United States Donald Trump has been involved directly in brokering the dispute, recently pushing negotiations with Putin. Following a six-hour conference in Istanbul, the Russian leader recognized a flash of optimism regarding talks with Washington. Nevertheless, the Kremlin stressed that the reclaiming of annexed Ukrainian territory is not in the cards. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "These territories are now included in our constitution, and there is no place for negotiations."

The international response

Zelensky's reparations appeal has captured worldwide attention. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have called on Trump to keep backing Ukraine strongly. European leaders are worried that Washington may be too quick to agree to a settlement at the expense of Russia. Ways to impose reparations include freezing Russian assets or charging Russian leaders with war crimes, but applying them is proving difficult.

Ukraine's citizens speak out

Ukrainians are generally behind Zelensky's call, but they are skeptical. Sergiy, a 39-year-old Kyiv teacher, said, "It is reasonable to demand compensation from Russia, but will they ever pay? And what will we have to sacrifice to the U.S. in exchange?" Likewise, 30-year-old programmer Mykyta Kleminov said, "Peace would be good, but without guarantees of security, it won't last."

Moscow has not made a direct reaction to Zelensky's request yet. It is not expected to accept any kind of reparations, however, based on Russia's history. On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that it had taken control of the village of Nikolske in the region of Sudzha, which further indicates its ongoing military pursuits.