Zelenskyy Warns of Russian “Blockade” as Peace Talks Reach Critical Juncture

KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fundamentally shifted his rhetoric, moving from the defiant optimism of late 2025 to a grim, “cautious” realism. In a high-stakes assessment reported by The New York Times, Zelenskyy revealed that while a peace framework is nearly 90% complete, a total collapse remains imminent due to the Kremlin’s refusal to concede on non-negotiable territories.

The shift comes as Zelenskyy prepares to meet with world leaders at the “Coalition of the Willing” summit in Paris. Despite months of diplomatic heavy lifting, the Ukrainian leader signaled he is no longer willing to play a “waiting game” that costs Ukrainian lives every minute.

The Two-Path Doctrine

Zelenskyy has officially pivoted to what aides call the “Two-Path Doctrine.” During a recent address, he made it clear that Kyiv is preparing for a “worst-case scenario” if Moscow continues to obstruct the final 10% of the deal.

“I do not want and will not wait another six months hoping,” Zelenskyy stated. “There are two paths: The first priority is ending the war; the second is being prepared for negative steps by Russia—for its unwillingness to end the war.”

Unresolved Flashpoints: Zaporizhzhia and Sovereignty

Diplomatic sources indicate that the primary “deal-breakers” remain the control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the specific status of occupied territories in the East. Russia has reportedly rejected multiple Ukrainian initiatives aimed at demilitarizing the nuclear site, leading to fears that the Kremlin is using the facility as a permanent “geopolitical ransom.”

The US Mandate

Significantly, Zelenskyy has dismissed the idea of European-led mediation, insisting that there is “no alternative” to negotiations led by the United States. While the EU has attempted to take a mediating role, Kyiv believes only Washington possesses the military and economic leverage required to force a Russian signature on a binding document.

The Paris summit will now focus on “security guarantees” that would trigger if a ceasefire is reached, including the potential deployment of a foreign military contingent on Ukrainian soil—a move intended to prevent a second invasion.