Zelensky on Bucha: “We can’t just forget everything and continue trading gas and diesel with Putin.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Bucha one of the most difficult moments of the full-scale war and explained why he believes it is impossible to forget Russian crimes and return to normal trade with the Kremlin. He spoke about this in an interview with British podcaster Steven Bartlett for his show The Diary Of A CEO.

According to the head of state, what he saw in Bucha stirred feelings in him that he had never experienced before. The president admitted that, for the first time in his life, he wanted to find those responsible and kill them. At the same time, he stressed that as president he must control his emotions and speak more diplomatically. Zelenskyy said that in Bucha he saw bodies lying in the streets for the first time. According to him, Russian troops tortured and shot people, and buried the bodies in yards.

The investigation into war crimes in Bucha is ongoing. In particular, Ukraine’s National Police identified all 12 servicemen of Russia’s 234th Air Assault Regiment whom investigators link to the killing of 16 civilians between March 5 and 9, 2022.

Against this backdrop, Zelenskyy questioned whether it was possible to resume economic relations with Russia as if no crimes against Ukrainians had been committed. He stressed that without justice and accountability for those responsible, society would not be able to fully overcome the consequences of what it had endured. The president also drew attention to trade in Russian energy resources. The material provided mentions an agreement reached on October 9 between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin on the supply of Russian diesel fuel and easing sanctions on its exports. According to CNN, such agreements could bring the Kremlin billions of dollars that could help fund the war.

In Zelenskyy’s view, diplomatic agreements alone do not guarantee lasting peace. That requires a clear path to punishing those responsible for war crimes, including through judicial proceedings. The president explained that without a sense of justice, people may continue to crave revenge. This, in turn, creates the risk that the confrontation will not end even after official peace documents are signed. That is why Zelenskyy emphasizes the need for a just peace that entails not only an end to hostilities but also accountability for the crimes committed. He believes that without this, it is impossible to fully heal the wounds of war and build a lasting peace.

We wrote earlier:

• Sanctions relief pleases Putin: Zelenskyy criticizes Trump’s decision
• Diesel as a bargaining chip: U.S. seeks a deal, Kyiv is skeptical
• Gifts to Putin: Zelenskyy responds to lifting sanctions on Russian diesel
• Zelenskyy shows his bunker office for the first time on the invasion anniversary
• Zelenskyy invites Merkel and Sarkozy to see victims of Russian terror in Bucha