A Russian defeat in the war against Ukraine will not automatically end the Kremlin’s aggressive foreign policy. As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a recent interview with BFMTV, Vladimir Putin is likely to seek new conflicts and attack other nations should his ambitions in Ukraine fail.
According to the Ukrainian leader, if Russia fails to achieve its goals, Putin will remain a clear and present danger to global security. “He will try to occupy another place, other people, and kill people again,” Zelenskyy emphasized, warning that the Russian leadership views ongoing conflict as a fundamental tool of statecraft. The president noted that the Kremlin may attempt to draw other countries into the war if the situation on the front remains unfavorable for Moscow.
Regarding the prospect of a ceasefire, Zelenskyy was blunt: the main obstacle to peace remains the Russian leadership. While the international community seeks a resolution, Moscow’s official rhetoric regarding peace talks is entirely disingenuous. “We need to end this war, but there is one side—Russia—that does not want it. They only demonstrate this in words,” Zelenskyy added. For Putin, the goal is not a just peace, but absolute victory, which would allow him to consolidate power and continue his expansionist agenda.
This assessment highlights why the outcome of the war in Ukraine is a matter of global importance. If the international community fails to curb Russia’s ambitions now, the threat of spillover into Eastern and Central Europe will increase. The resilience of the Ukrainian military remains the only effective shield against a broader continental disaster. Zelenskyy’s warnings echo the broader concerns of European leaders who see Russia’s actions as an existential threat to the current international order. As the war continues to unfold, the consensus among Kyiv’s allies is that only increased pressure—both diplomatic and military—can force the Kremlin to reconsider its aggressive posture.