"Russia is carrying out a plan of pure terrorism, and it is now clear to everyone that Vladimir Putin is not seeking peace, but the suffering of the Ukrainian people." President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke harshly and directly at the International Conference on Ukraine's Reconstruction, which is presently taking place in Rome. In his address, Zelensky recounted how, only one year ago, there were still individuals who believed in the possibility of a negotiated settlement with Moscow. "They intended to convince the public that we, the Ukrainians, were not interested in peace through propaganda", he stated. "But it is evident now: Putin has rejected every suggestion of de-escalation". The Ukrainian president underscored the ongoing Russian attacks on civilian targets, including homes, schools, and hospitals, with the intention of causing the population to evacuate and bringing the country to its knees. "Putin is not preparing for peace; rather, he is preparing for a further escalation of violence", he reiterated. Zelensky's message, sent from the center of Europe, was also a call to the international community to remain united in its condemnation of the aggression and its concrete support for the reconstruction of a free, secure, and sovereign Ukraine.