1,500 days after the start of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with Gordon Repinski in Kyiv for a discussion. Amid the global escalation due to the Iran war, Zelensky warns of a dangerous loss of focus by the West. He talks about the bitter realization that Patriot missiles are now needed in the Middle East instead of over Kyiv and his concern that US President Donald Trump may effectively circumvent sanctions on Russian oil.
Zelensky also has strong words for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, openly calling him a “Putin ally” within the EU and accusing him of blackmail by linking the release of EU billions for Ukraine to the transit of Russian oil. Zelensky explains why Ukraine is ready to repair the destroyed Druzhba pipeline despite risks for Europe if Brussels doesn’t increase pressure on Budapest.
The President discusses his people’s exhaustion, his personal hatred for Vladimir Putin, and why he wants to hold peace negotiations only from a position of strength. He also looks ahead, planning Ukraine’s EU membership for 2027, but warns that without a clear date from the EU states, Putin will block his country’s European future even after a ceasefire.
The Berlin Playbook podcast is available every morning from 5 a.m. with Gordon Repinski and the POLITICO team offering compact, international, and in-depth politics for all capital city professionals. The Berlin Playbook newsletter provides the most important topics and analyses every morning. Now available to subscribe for free.
More from host and POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon Repinski: Instagram: @gordon.repinski | X: @GordonRepinski.
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