If Russia is given a pause in the war, countries will be at risk where the Kremlin can "gain an instant 'success effect'". Therefore, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to "survive politically." This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference with Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama.
According to him, Russia is drawing conclusions about the mistakes it made in Ukraine, and it will continue to destabilize if it is given a break, if it is given the opportunity to survive aggression against Ukraine.
"If Putin is allowed to survive politically. Russia will then use other tactics. It will influence those countries where it can get an immediate effect of success. And this means smaller countries, and therefore, I am sure, the Baltic states, Moldova, and the Balkan states, wherever the Soviet Union had a presence, are under threat," he said.
Zelensky also emphasized that Russia "did not swallow Ukraine, it could not."
"I am grateful to your countries around the world for helping Ukraine to be strong. And now we must not take a break, but strengthen Ukraine. Because Russia will definitely not stop there," the Ukrainian leader stated.