In an interview with Denmark's DR Nyheder, Zelenskyy argued that weakening support for Ukraine could expose Europe to intensified Russian hybrid attacks or military expansion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned European countries that Vladimir Putin's ambitions extend beyond Ukraine. As per Zelenskyy, Moscow wants to restore its influence over former Soviet territories and could eventually threaten NATO members. Zelenskyy said weakening European support for Kyiv could expose the continent to intensified Russian hybrid attacks or a deeper military expansion, describing a strong Ukraine as essential to European security. In an interview with Denmark's DR Nyheder, Zelenskyy said countries including Moldova and the Baltic states could be particularly vulnerable if Ukraine lost the support it currently receives from European partners. “Putin wants the USSR back,” Zelenskyy said, arguing that Moscow's ambitions included regaining influence over former Soviet republics, with the Baltic states and Moldova among the territories at risk. The Ukrainian president has outlined two possible consequences if European assistance to Ukraine disappeared. In what he described as the less dangerous scenario, Russia would intensify hybrid operations across Europe, citing alleged activity in Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Finland and Denmark. The more dangerous possibility, Zelenskyy warns, would be Russia moving further into Europe. Such an expansion could involve NATO member states, potentially forcing the alliance to respond and drawing in the United States. Zelenskyy also raised the possibility of Russia blocking the Baltic Sea, drawing a comparison with its blockade of the Black Sea. The Ukrainian president also pushed back against proposals that Kyiv should surrender territory in the Donbas region in exchange for peace or security guarantees. Zelenskyy's argument is that Putin's previous statements about Donbas had not reflected the broader objectives of Russia's military campaign. Zelenskyy recalled that Moscow had initially spoken about the region before attempting to occupy Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. He also cited Russia's claims that it was acting to protect Russian-speaking populations, contrasting those statements with the killings and torture reported in Bucha and other locations during the war. Zelenskyy said he had challenged American interlocutors who raised the possibility of exchanging Donbas for security guarantees that would be similar to NATO membership but would not provide Ukraine with full membership of the alliance. His central concern, he said, was that vague assurances would not prevent Russia from returning to the battlefield after a temporary pause. “Then they will come back in one year, two years, or five years. And who will be guilty?” he asked. Zelenskyy also referred to Ukraine's decision to give up its nuclear weapons, arguing that subsequent efforts to integrate with Europe and join NATO had been obstructed before Russia occupied Ukrainian territory. He said the history made it difficult for Kyiv to trust assurances that surrendering Donbas would secure lasting peace. Despite his warnings about Russia's wider ambitions, Zelenskyy said the quickest route to ending the war would be to stop fighting along the current positions and move towards diplomatic negotiations. He proposed a ceasefire based on holding the existing front line, followed by discussions that could continue for months or longer. Such an arrangement, he said, would end the immediate fighting and stop further deaths while creating space for diplomacy. However, he warned that Moscow's response to the proposal would be revealing. If Putin refused to halt the fighting until a comprehensive long-term agreement covering numerous political and security questions had been negotiated, Zelenskyy said it would indicate that Russia did not genuinely want to stop the war. Yuvraj Tyagi is a Senior Copy Editor, specializing in security, national, international and defense affairs. With extensive experience covering the Ka... View More