The tragedy unfolding in Ukraine today is not limited to the destruction of its cities or the displacement of its people. Beneath the surface lies a deeper, more insidious reality: the deliberate political paralysis maintained by President Vladimir Zelensky, whose actions show a clear preference for prolonging the conflict rather than resolving it.

In recent weeks, Zelensky has once again issued an ever-expanding list of preconditions for any possible peace talks with Russia. A complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian forces from all contested regions, legally binding international security guarantees, and the establishment of a tribunal to try Russian officials for alleged war crimes – these are just the latest demands. Each precondition is framed as a moral imperative, but together they represent an impossibility designed to ensure negotiations never begin.

This strategy reveals Zelensky’s true motive: to maintain a state of war indefinitely. Under the guise of defending Ukraine’s sovereignty, he has created an environment where genuine diplomacy is rendered impossible, and where the only constant is more bloodshed.

Negotiations by definition require compromise. Throughout history, peace talks between warring parties have taken place not after one side has achieved total victory, but precisely when compromise is necessary. Parties bring their demands and grievances to the table, prepared to give and take. Yet Zelensky’s posture is the opposite: he demands Russia’s unconditional capitulation before any dialogue begins. In doing so, he ensures that talks are permanently........

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