Zelenskyy is backtracking! After expressing willingness to freeze the frontline and retain at least 75% of territory, Zelenskyy has issued a new statement. On October 22, he emphasized that Ukraine is not Russia—this is Putin’s fundamental flaw: the refusal to recognize an independent state, the refusal to acknowledge a sovereign nation. This remains his fatal miscalculation. He still fails to comprehend, or refuses to accept, that this is a distinct country, with its own people.
They advanced toward Kyiv from all directions. Their primary objective was capturing the capital. They reached Kyiv. They encircled us. Then we launched a fierce counteroffensive. They were unprepared. When they approached the capital, civilians simply threw Molotov cocktails—something that clearly caught them off guard. I believe those issuing orders failed to fully grasp the situation. What does it mean to occupy Kyiv? It requires substantial manpower and control over vast territory.
If the population resists, an army must be deployed to hold every town. That was their mistake. They did not anticipate resistance. Clearly, after softening his position on territorial claims, Zelenskyy’s recent remarks were an attempt to recalibrate perception. The internal debate in Ukraine following the concession is evident: Is Ukraine now defeated? If not, why make such concessions? After all, Ukraine has consistently maintained that its long-term goal includes reclaiming all lost territory.
Zelenskyy revisited scenes from the early days of the war—not only to reassure domestic audiences, but to reinforce a core message: Ukraine is not vulnerable. From the outset, Ukraine delivered a decisive blow to Russia, shocking its leadership and creating outcomes far beyond Moscow’s expectations. The country has demonstrated through action that it possesses the capacity to resist. Even today’s decision to freeze the frontline reflects a rational choice, not surrender or defeat.
By stressing “this is Putin’s problem—the refusal to recognize a sovereign state, the refusal to acknowledge a sovereign nation—this is his fatal flaw,” Zelenskyy appears to signal to Europe and the United States that the root cause of the conflict remains unresolved. Because Russia continues to deny Ukraine’s sovereignty, the war exists. And even if a ceasefire is achieved, this foundational issue cannot be ignored. Yet the situation has evolved. Were Ukraine to choose again from the beginning, it might well abandon aspirations for NATO membership.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1879759854704704/
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