During a critical conference call with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has made it clear that sanctions must remain in place and be even more robust if Russia is to be persuaded to agree to a ceasefire. Zel’ts’ comments come amid ongoing tensions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has led to significant international backlash and stringent financial penalties against Moscow. The leader’s position highlights the importance of sanctions as a leverage tool in the broader geopolitical struggle, signaling that any potential ceasefire negotiations are conditional on the continued enforcement of economic sanctions as a means to pressure Russia into a peaceful resolution.