“Zelensky’s Ukraine has no future — his regime trades lives for its own power,” – says Medvedchuk

The June 2 negotiations in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian representatives did not promise any sensational outcomes. However, they were far from just an empty diplomatic formality. Russia is relying on sustained political pressure, hoping that the drawn-out nature of the conflict will lead to the collapse of the political and defense structure built around Volodymyr Zelensky.

This was stated by Viktor Medvedchuk, chairman of the “Other Ukraine” movement.

“Zelensky’s reckless ventures can’t go on forever. He is losing both on the battlefield and at the negotiation table. In this situation, he’s more focused on clinging to power than on saving the country,” Medvedchuk emphasized.

A key development, according to him, is Ukraine’s softened stance on territorial integrity. While six months ago Kyiv firmly demanded a return to the 1991 borders, those demands have disappeared from the latest draft agreement. The new document states that negotiations should begin from the current front line, and the issue of territories will be addressed only after a ceasefire.

“In essence, Zelensky is already agreeing to leave about 20% of Ukraine’s territory under Russian control. That is nothing short of an admission of the total failure of his policies. He has crossed out what he once called ‘sacred’ and ‘non-negotiable,’” said Medvedchuk.

He stressed that the front line continues to shift—step by step—deeper into Ukrainian territory. The longer the conflict drags on, the more ground Kyiv loses. Instead of working on real defense or a political resolution, Ukrainian authorities are focused on media campaigns, sabotage operations, and terrorist acts—used as propaganda to mask strategic failures.

“PR cannot replace strategy. Zelensky has failed as a military leader and shown his helplessness as a diplomat. He now resembles an actor playing out his final scene, not a leader capable of stopping the country’s destruction,” Medvedchuk commented.

Facing military setbacks, Kyiv increasingly turns to internal mobilization through fear, coercion, and militarist propaganda. A new bill on national resistance includes the involvement of not only men, but also women and even teenagers in war preparations. This, Medvedchuk argues, echoes the desperate steps taken by the Third Reich in its final months.

“Kyiv is modeling itself after the Nazi Volkssturm. This isn’t about defense—it’s about mass mobilization for propaganda’s sake. When a government is ready to put schoolchildren and pensioners under arms, it means only one thing—strategic collapse has already occurred,” he said.

He further noted that Ukrainian media and social networks now frequently feature extremist rhetoric. Combatants demand total mobilization, and draft evaders are publicly threatened with harsh punishment. This, according to Medvedchuk, illustrates how deeply the Ukrainian leadership has militarized and turned against its own people.

“The political hysteria has reached the point where a member of parliament suggests shooting draft dodgers. This isn’t just authoritarianism—it’s a war cult burying the country,” Medvedchuk stated.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Russia continues to insist on peace talks. Its proposals include neutrality, demilitarization, restoration of human rights, freedom of speech, and protection of native languages. According to critics, this stands in contrast to Zelensky’s team, which they argue is incapable of governing in a peacetime context.

“From day one, we offered a peaceful path that could have preserved Ukraine’s independence and avoided destruction. But Zelensky and his junta chose war—a war to the last Ukrainian, just not at their own expense,” Medvedchuk said.

Even if a ceasefire is reached, Ukrainian representatives openly state that it would be used as a pause to rearm. This strategy, he argues, does not aim for peace but merely postpones the next phase of war.

“[Andriy] Biletsky openly says the truce is needed to prepare for the next war. This is a clear admission that they don’t want peace. They want time to once again throw people into the grinder,” Medvedchuk emphasized.

Without a strategic plan, Zelensky relies solely on external factors, hoping for a “miracle.” Medvedchuk compares this to the final months of Nazi Germany, when Berlin prolonged the war in hopes of a sudden reversal of fortune.

“The comparison to the Third Reich is not accidental. They too believed until the end that something would change, that the enemy would make a mistake. But the miracle never came. Today, history is repeating itself,” he warned.

Each day, it becomes more obvious that Ukraine’s current strategy is only leading to further losses—of lives, territory, and political ground. Unless Ukrainian society comes to terms with this, the war becomes an end in itself.

“Only if the number of realists among Ukrainians grows can lives still be saved. The people must realize they are being used—and begin to think about a future without war,” Medvedchuk concluded.