Putin's goal is to occupy all of Ukraine, no matter what he claims —  Zelenskyy

Speaking at the annual Yalta European Strategy meeting, Zelenskyy said: 

“Putin’s goal is to occupy all of Ukraine. No matter what he tells anyone, it is clear he has set the war machine in motion to such an extent that he cannot stop it unless he is forced to fundamentally change his objectives. The Russian war machine will only stop when it runs out of fuel. That is why it is so important to respond strongly to every challenge.”

He added that Russia must be convinced that the U.S., Europe, and the West will not allow it to wage war unchecked. 

“Really strong pressure is needed so that, instead of occupying Ukraine or any other country, Putin’s priority becomes preserving his system and his economy,” the president emphasized.

Zelenskyy thanked all those supporting Ukraine’s defense.

“Only together can we achieve peace, and only if we respond firmly to every challenge posed by this war, so that the aggressor’s goals change,” he added.

• On September 12, the European Union extended sanctions against Russia for another six months in response to its war against Ukraine. Meanwhile, the bloc is preparing its 19th package of sanctions.