Portrait of Volodymyr Zelenskyy
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Vladimir Putin

Direct adversary (strong) Position evolved

Volodymyr Zelenskyy regards Vladimir Putin as the antagonist responsible for the ongoing war and the annexation of Ukrainian territory, having escalated from a dialogue partner to a declared enemy. Prior to the full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy attempted to engage Putin in negotiations to resolve the Donbas conflict, even meeting him in the Normandy Format in December 2019.

Following the invasion that began on 2022-02-24, Zelenskyy's rhetoric shifted decisively, labeling Putin's actions as unprovoked aggression and demanding an end to the war. He explicitly stated that he regarded Putin as an enemy in April 2019, a sentiment that has only intensified as the war progressed.

Zelenskyy's current position is non-negotiable regarding territorial integrity, stating Ukraine will fight until all its territories are regained, and refusing peace talks while Putin remains in power following the 2022 annexation attempts. He has repeatedly called for direct, face-to-face talks with Putin, emphasizing he is ready to negotiate but not to capitulate, even suggesting talks not held from a distance like previous meetings with other leaders.

Context

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the President of Ukraine during the full-scale Russian invasion, has his views on Vladimir Putin as the central axis of his presidency and foreign policy. Putin initiated the war following Zelenskyy's election and pre-war attempts at diplomatic de-escalation in the Donbas region.

Zelenskyy's evolving relationship with Putin reflects the trajectory of the conflict, moving from being a political outsider hoping to end a protracted war through dialogue to being the wartime leader confronting an existential threat led by Putin.

Timeline

  1. During his presidential campaign, Zelenskyy stated he regarded Putin as an enemy.
  2. Zelenskyy held his first telephone conversation with Putin, urging talks mediated by the EU and discussing prisoner exchanges.
  3. Zelenskyy met Vladimir Putin face-to-face for the first time in the Normandy Format to discuss easing the conflict in Donbas.
  4. In response to Kremlin demands for Ukrainian neutrality and recognition of annexed territories, Zelenskyy expressed willingness to discuss the points but stated it would not be a capitulation.
  5. Following Russia's declared annexation of four Ukrainian regions, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would not hold peace talks while Putin was president.

Actions Taken

  1. Diplomatic action
    Severed diplomatic relations with Russia immediately following the announcement of the 'special military operation' by Putin.
  2. Policy declaration
    Announced that Ukraine would not hold peace talks with Russia while Putin was president, after Russia's declared annexation of Ukrainian territory.
  3. Legal/Justice advocacy
    Declared intent to see Putin stand trial for war crimes, including the crime of aggression, at the International Criminal Court.

Key Quotes

I regarded him as an enemy. The border is the only thing Russia and Ukraine have in common.

Facebook post May 2, 2019 — Statement on his relationship with Putin and the shared border.

Good Lord, what do you want? Leave our land. If you don't want to leave now, sit down with me at the negotiating table. But not from 30 meters away, like with Macron and Scholz. I don't bite.

Address/Statement during the full-scale invasion March 1, 2022 — Direct invitation to Putin for talks under equal conditions.

I'm 99.9 percent sure that he [Putin] thought the Ukrainians would welcome the invading forces with flowers and smiles.

Statement during the invasion March 1, 2022 — Commentary on Putin's miscalculation regarding Ukrainian sentiment.

Related Positions

  • Russo-Ukrainian War Zelenskyy views the war as a direct consequence of Putin's aggression and has made its end and Ukraine's victory his central focus.
  • Crimea and Donbas Status Zelenskyy rejects any peace deal that involves recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea or recognizing the self-proclaimed separatist republics, viewing their return to Ukrainian control as non-negotiable.
  • International Sanctions on Russia Zelenskyy actively seeks to isolate Putin's regime by rallying Western nations for punitive sanctions, including welcoming new measures against Russian energy and oil companies.
Sources4

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.