Zelensky named the expected date for achieving peace
5 February 06:41
President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the war in Ukraine could end as early as next year, thanks to intensified diplomatic efforts and the work of his team. A peaceful resolution to the conflict remains a key priority for the country. This was stated by Zelensky in an interview with France 2 television channel, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“Our priority is to end the war.”
Zelensky emphasized that a peaceful settlement remains the top priority for him personally and for his entire team.
“I really hope that in a year there will be peace in Ukraine. We will do everything we can. This is our priority — mine and my team’s. My team is currently negotiating. Our task is to end this war,” the president said.
At the same time, he stressed that diplomacy cannot be one-sided and should not ignore Russia’s real actions on the front lines.
Ukraine will not accept Russia’s ultimatums
The president made it clear that Ukraine will not agree to ultimatums from Russia, which, despite diplomatic signals, continues its military aggression and shelling of the civilian population.
Zelensky noted that Russia is using not only missiles and drones against Ukraine, but also the cold weather, deliberately attacking energy infrastructure.
According to him, the more Russia kills civilians, the further it pushes away the possibility of real agreements.
“Red lines” for Ukraine
The head of state stressed that any proposals that effectively mean surrender are unacceptable. In particular, this refers to the Kremlin’s demands for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk and other territories in Donbas.
The president stressed that these are red lines that Ukraine will not cross under any circumstances. At the same time, he acknowledged that even freezing the front line at its current positions is a serious compromise for the state.
Despite this, Zelenskyy declared his readiness for dialogue if it is aimed at preserving Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.
On Macron’s initiative and Putin’s role
The president also commented on French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative to possibly restart talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
According to Zelensky, negotiations can only make sense if there are tough and clear demands on Russia.
“The current level of pressure on Russia is insufficient. Putin uses such discussions to humiliate Europe rather than to find real solutions,” the Ukrainian president said.
On Ukraine’s losses in the war
Zelenskyy separately addressed the topic of human losses. According to him, 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers, both regular and mobilized, have been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion.
At the same time, the president stressed that there are still a large number of missing persons, and the final figures can only be determined after the war ends. A year ago, the head of state cited a figure of more than 46,000 dead, which indicates the continuing extremely high cost of resistance to Russian aggression.
