Saturday, March 29, 2025
Zelensky Signals Firm Stance Against Russia During Rare In-Flight Media Interaction
December 10, 2025 | 10:30 AM IST
Amid the constant hum of aircraft engines and clear signs of exhaustion in his voice, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an unambiguous message to the world: Ukraine will not surrender even an inch of its territory—regardless of the cost.
During an exceptionally hectic 36-hour diplomatic tour across multiple European capitals, President Zelensky did not have time to hold a traditional press conference. Instead, he adopted a rare and unconventional approach—communicating directly with journalists through a group chat while flying between London and Brussels.
According to sources, such a method of media interaction is highly uncommon for a global leader. For the first time since Russia launched its invasion, Zelensky responded to a long list of questions from Ukrainian and international journalists via WhatsApp audio messages, sent while he was in mid-air.
Despite background noise from the aircraft and his visibly tired tone, Zelensky’s resolve was unmistakable. At a time when uncertainty looms over ongoing peace negotiations aimed at ending the war, he made it clear that Ukraine would not accept any settlement that requires territorial concessions.
“Without a doubt, Russia wants us to give up our land. But the law does not permit us to do so—and, clearly, we have no moral right to do that either,” Zelensky said in one of his late-night messages on Monday.
The Ukrainian president’s packed itinerary included meetings in London with the leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. From there, he traveled to Brussels for high-level discussions with NATO leadership and European Union officials. His tour concluded in Rome, where he met Italy’s Prime Minister and held talks with Pope Leo XIV.
Since the outbreak of the war in 2022, Zelensky has consistently emphasized dialogue and communication as central to Ukraine’s resistance. He has crisscrossed the globe, directly addressed foreign legislatures, and maintained frequent contact with the media.
When Russian forces first advanced toward Kyiv, Zelensky famously released a simple mobile phone video to reassure Ukrainians, declaring, “We are all here. Our soldiers are here. We are defending our independence.”
Since then, his communication strategy has relied on video messages, digital speeches to international parliaments, late-night social media posts, and carefully secured appearances before journalists. Even under intense pressure and physical exhaustion, Zelensky continues to project a clear message: Ukraine’s sovereignty is non-negotiable, and peace cannot come at the expense of its territorial integrity.
