Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming that Putin is too frightened to meet face-to-face for peace talks scheduled to take place in Turkey on Thursday. Zelensky made this statement in a video shared online, where he accused Putin of avoiding direct dialogue and said the Russian leader lacks the courage to come forward and discuss a ceasefire.
Instead of showing up himself, reports suggest Putin may send his Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, in his place. The presence of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who was expected to attend, is also now uncertain after some last-minute changes.
Zelensky emphasized that any real progress toward ending the war can only happen if Putin is involved personally. He made it clear that since Putin started the war, he should be the one to face responsibility and make the decisions needed to stop it.
Zelensky added that his team is actively preparing for the trip to Turkey and that any real peace talks must involve direct talks with Putin himself, not with substitutes. In a bold move earlier, Zelensky had reportedly taunted Putin with a four-word message, underlining his frustration at the Russian leader’s absence.
Zelensky believes Putin is avoiding the talks not because of logistics, but because of symbolism. Sitting down with the Ukrainian President would be an admission that the war has not gone according to Russia’s plan. For Putin, who maintains tight control over Russia’s political and military decisions, avoiding the talks may be a way of avoiding perceived weakness.
Meanwhile, tensions across Europe continue to rise. As many European countries boost their defense spending in response to Russian aggression, Russia is twisting the story to make it appear as if Europe is planning to attack. Analysts say this is a common Russian tactic—portraying defensive moves by others as threats, in order to justify their own aggression. This has made many people in the West fear that Russia may be setting the stage for more conflict, possibly even involving NATO countries.
Adding to concerns, Russia recently hosted the third Anti-Fascist Conference on April 30, which included military figures from Belarus, North Korea, and Vietnam. This gathering has raised new fears about Russia’s growing ties with other authoritarian regimes. At the same time, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Colonel General Viktor Goremykin has blamed the West for supporting Ukraine and accused them of promoting “Russophobic” policies. He even warned that Russia considers the European Union’s five-year rearmament plan unacceptable and hinted that Moscow would take serious steps to respond.
Belarus, a key Russian ally, echoed similar warnings. Their defense minister, Viktor Khrenin, claimed that the military buildup in Europe especially in the Baltic states is a threat to world peace. He accused countries like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania of promoting hatred against Russia in their governments and public messaging.
Analysts say that this kind of aggressive language from Russia is becoming more frequent. President Putin and his top officials are increasingly targeting their threats toward European countries, especially smaller neighbors that have voiced strong support for Ukraine. This growing tension and the refusal to engage in direct peace talks suggest that the path to ending the war remains difficult and full of uncertainty.
