Zelenskyy: We hope to end the war this year
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukraine hopes to end the full-scale war this year. However, Russia may return, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is certain, according to a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with media representatives following the plenary session of Support Ukraine.
"We hope to end this war this year, not in three years. It is a very difficult situation. I cannot talk about three years," the president noted.
However, Zelenskyy expects that Russian aggression will not cease even after the war ends. According to the president, Russia may return in 10 years if Ukraine is not prepared.
"They (the Russians – ed.) will not return if we push them back to where they belong and if the country is in the EU and NATO. They will not return if we have a strong army, an alliance, and unity. They will never forgive the world for not winning. And you will see that they will not win," Zelenskyy emphasized.
Statements on ending the war
Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha stated that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set the goal of achieving a just peace in the full-scale war by 2025. At the time, the minister noted that Ukraine has a chance to end the war this year, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is fully mobilizing its diplomatic service to achieve peace.
Meanwhile, the head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said during the Ukraine. Year 2025 forum that he believes the war in Ukraine will end in 2025. However, this cannot happen unilaterally.
According to Budanov, there are several reasons for this. First, Russia needs a pause and a ceasefire, as it lacks sufficient strength. The second reason is the high financial cost for Russia.
At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that Putin seeks "peace negotiations" not to end the war but to buy time. A ceasefire would also allow for the lifting of some sanctions.
