President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine expects to end the war diplomatically within a year, according to his interview with the TV channel France 2. In a conversation with a French journalist, the head of state emphasized that achieving peace is a key task for him and his team and that negotiations are currently being considered as the main tool for ending hostilities.
“I really hope that there will be peace in Ukraine in a year. We will do everything possible for this. This is the main priority for me and my team. We are currently actively working on negotiations to end the war”, – Zelensky emphasized.
Volodymyr Zelensky drew attention to the fact that Russia presents its ultimatums as an alleged readiness for compromise, although it continues to strike at the territory of Ukraine and applies energy pressure as part of the war. According to him, the more the Russian Federation attacks civilian objects, the less space remains for any real agreements.
The President of Ukraine separately emphasized that the diplomatic path does not mean abandoning national interests or accepting the Kremlin’s demands, and noted that peace cannot take the form of capitulation. He also noted that Moscow’s demand to withdraw Ukrainian troops from the entire Donbas “is – red line”.
Speaking about the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron to resume dialogue with Vladimir Putin, Zelensky noted that such contacts are possible only if there is real international pressure on Russia. He added that as long as sanctions and the influence of partners remain insufficient, the Kremlin is using negotiations as a tool of political blackmail and an attempt to humiliate Europe.
