Zelensky, in the midst of negotiations, expressed regret that Putin is still alive

Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview in Copenhagen, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “has not been stopped by anyone” and “has not been destroyed by anyone,” and expressed regret that he is “still alive.”

This was reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine.

The interview took place yesterday, right between two rounds of negotiations. The statement came amid trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi.

“No one has stopped Putin, no one has destroyed him, and he is still alive. God willing, he will hear us and do something,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president has publicly wished death upon the head of the Kremlin more than once. In his Christmas address last year, he stated that all Ukrainians make one wish on that day: “That he may die.” At the same time, the president did not specify whose death exactly Ukrainians were wishing for. Ukrainian Telegram channels suggested that he was referring to the Russian president.

After Zelensky’s Christmas address, the Kremlin questioned his ability to make decisions about peace.

Also in the spring of last year, Zelensky called his age an advantage over Putin, noting that the Russian president “will die soon.”

He believes that if Putin dies, Russia’s war against Ukraine will also end, since Russia’s institutions will stop functioning and Russian politicians will turn to domestic issues.

At the same time, the Ukrainian president regularly demands a personal meeting with Putin.