"Embracing Putin won't help," says Zelensky.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude to the international community for supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russia.

He made this statement during his speech at the European Political Community summit in Budapest, the text of which has been published on the president's official website.

“We are defending ourselves not against Russian words but against Russian attacks. Therefore, we need a sufficient amount of weapons, not support in negotiations. Embraces with Putin will not help. Some of you have been hugging him for 20 years, and things are only getting worse,” the president emphasized.

He added that Putin “only thinks about wars and will not change. Only pressure can hold him back.”

“At thematic conferences, every point of the Peace Formula has already been discussed. Nuclear security, food security, energy, the return of prisoners and deportees to Ukraine, and full compliance with international law, among many other issues. We need to push Russia toward this,” Zelensky stated.

He stressed that the war is taking place on Ukrainian soil.

Moreover, the head of state noted that “the bill for this war should be presented to the Russians, not to Ukraine.”

“So that Russia can no longer make its false claims to everyone around – from the Baltic states to the Balkans. Any country, any leader who respects international law and sits at this table must understand that predators always demand greater and greater prey,” the president addressed the attendees.

He also added that “during this war, we have seen the inadequacy of certain European approaches.”

Background. Earlier, Mind reported that Zelensky arrived in Budapest for the European Political Community summit. Ukraine will be one of the main topics at the two high-level meetings during the summit on November 7 and 8.