Volodymyr Zelenskyj gives a timetable for a possible end to the war

There are new signals about the war in Ukraine and there is cautious hope that the bloodshed will soon come to an end: According to the words of its President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine must now do everything in its power to stop the war started by Russia next year can be ended through diplomatic channels.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin is not interested in agreeing to a peace agreement, Zelensky said in an interview broadcast on Ukrainian radio on Saturday. It was convenient for the leadership in Moscow to sit down at the table and negotiate while the fighting continued. “From our side, we must do everything we can to ensure that this war ends next year, through diplomatic channels.”

Zelensky made the comments after Russia’s UN ambassador in Geneva said on Thursday that Russia was open to negotiations to end the war if future US President Donald Trump initiated them. However, the “realities on site” would have to be taken into account. This refers to Russia’s demand that Ukraine cede the four regions in the east and south that are partially occupied by Russian forces and fully claimed by Russia.

Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Zelensky has repeatedly stated that there can be no peace until all Russian soldiers are expelled from Ukrainian soil and all the territories they captured are returned. This also includes the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. However, a return to Ukraine’s internationally recognized 1991 borders is not mentioned in the victory plan Zelensky laid out in October.

Zelensky said in the interview that the war would probably end more quickly under a US President Trump. During the election campaign, the Republican repeatedly announced that he would end the war quickly. However, Trump has left it open how he wants to accomplish this. Zelensky said he wanted to meet Trump but only speak with him and not with an envoy or adviser.

The Ukrainian president acknowledged that the situation on the front in the east of his country was difficult and that Russian forces were making progress. They are currently advancing on Kurachowe, where there is a thermal power plant. The place is only seven kilometers from Pokrovsk. This city was one of the logistical hubs of Ukrainian troops throughout most of the war.

The Russian troops have been making slow but steady progress for a long time. Recently they have been able to significantly increase the pace of their advance. On Saturday, the Defense Ministry reported the capture of two more villages in eastern Ukraine. These are the towns of Makarivka and Hryhorivka in the Donetsk region. Makarivka is located south of Velyka Novosilka. Hryhorivka, which bears its former name Leninskoye in Russia, is located west of the city of Selydove, which was captured by Russian troops in October. Such information about the fighting cannot be independently verified.

Zelensky said the situation of his own troops was difficult for several reasons. One was the delay of up to a year in equipping the units. This is partly due to the US Congress’ months-long delay in approving aid to Ukraine last winter. Some of the brigades would now enter combat, the president said. “To stop the Russian army, new reserves will now arrive, equipped with the equipment we have been waiting for for so long.”

Ukraine has sought to increase its own arms production to reduce dependence on allies. Zelensky said Ukraine is currently building four different missiles that are currently being tested.