Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is openly mocking peace efforts by stepping up drone and missile attacks, even as international leaders work to end the war.
In his nightly video address on March 31, Zelenskyy criticized the Kremlin’s latest wave of strikes and called on the international community to keep pressuring Moscow.
“Moscow blatantly makes a mockery of our partners’ efforts to advance a peace agenda – with constant new drone attacks and brutal shelling,” Zelenskyy said. “Only through pressure can this be ended.”
“Russia Must Be Held Responsible”
Zelenskyy said there must be no forgetting of the atrocities committed during the war. He named Bucha and Mariupol as examples where Russia must be held to account.
“There can be no scenario where Russian leaders or the state itself escape responsibility,” he said. “What happened in our towns and villages cannot be normalized.”
His comments came as European parliamentary leaders from 17 countries visited Kyiv on the anniversary of Bucha’s liberation, where hundreds of civilians were found dead after Russian forces withdrew in 2022.
The visiting lawmakers, along with European Parliament representatives, met with Ukrainian officials as a show of solidarity and support for ongoing efforts to hold Russia accountable and assist Ukraine's defense.
Zelenskyy’s message was clear: Russia continues to escalate, even as the world seeks peace — and that peace will only come when Moscow feels the consequences of its actions.
