Zelensky Mocks Putin's Military Deadlines in Eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday mocked the Russian military campaign, stating that the Kremlin has set and postponed 15 deadlines over more than four years to seize the eastern Donbas region.

These remarks came as a response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's rejection of what he described as a Ukrainian proposal to abandon long-range strikes and reduce the intensity of fighting.

Zelensky said Putin's statements indicate a disconnect from the realities faced by Russians, who are encountering long queues at fuel stations, a situation linked to Ukrainian strikes on oil industry targets, according to Reuters.

In his nightly video address, Zelensky noted, "Even an oil-producing country, or a 'gas station' as Russia is often called, is now experiencing a fuel shortage."

He added, "This is a direct consequence of the war. One of many consequences. It is also an example of how Ukraine responds precisely, not through terrorism."

Zelensky elaborated on what he described as 15 deadlines set by the Kremlin—each later postponed—over four years to capture four eastern Ukrainian regions: Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

He stated, "The Russian political leadership remains obsessed with the Donbas region. If Russia does not end the war, it will have to postpone that deadline again."

Following the outbreak of war in February 2022, Russian forces initially attempted to advance toward Kyiv but withdrew after failing to do so, shifting their efforts to capturing Donbas.

Russia has taken full control of Luhansk and large parts of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.

Although Moscow's forces are advancing slowly westward through Donetsk, Ukrainian officials say progress has significantly slowed as Ukraine intensifies its campaign of medium- and long-range drone strikes.

In a television interview on Sunday, Putin said Russian forces will continue to pursue their battlefield objective of fully capturing the four Ukrainian regions.

A Russian expert noted that Kyiv aims to increase field pressure on Moscow by targeting Crimea.

Putin acknowledged fuel shortages in Russia but dismissed what he called a new Ukrainian proposal to curb fighting, labeling it a ruse to ease pressure on Kyiv's army.

Zelensky did not comment on what Putin described as a new proposal. Earlier this month, Zelensky wrote an open letter to Putin inviting him to hold a bilateral meeting.

He also stated that Ukraine has already presented proposals to move toward ending the war, "and Russia rejects them every time."