Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said Russia’s war in Ukraine will end “faster” when Donald Trump takes over as US president.
Speaking in a radio interview with Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, Zelensky admitted to a difficult situation on the battlefield, where Russia has been pressing its advantages in manpower and weaponry.
He said the war “will end faster with the policy of this team that will now lead the White House,” referring to the incoming Trump administration
“This is their approach, their promise to their society, and it is also very important to them,” he added.
Zelensky stressed that, on Ukraine’s part, “We must do everything to ensure that the war ends next year through diplomatic means.”
Trump, who was elected for a second term earlier this month, has repeatedly claimed that the Ukraine-Russia war would not have started if he had been president. In July, he said he could settle the war in one day – without saying how he would do so.
Throughout his campaign, the president-elect and his running mate, JD Vance, cast strong doubts on continued US commitment to Kyiv. The war has been ongoing for more than two and a half years, following the large-scale invasion of Russian forces in February 2022.
Meanwhile G7 leaders on Saturday issued a message of unwavering support to Ukraine. “We stand in solidarity contributing to [Ukraine’s] fight for sovereignty, freedom, independence, territorial integrity and its reconstruction,” a statement said.
The group said Russia was “the sole obstacle to just and lasting peace.”
Russia is making gains at key spots along the frontlines of eastern and southeastern Ukraine, moving closer to key hubs like the city of Kurakhove. Russia claimed Saturday it captured two more eastern settlements in the Donetsk region, although there was no confirmation from Ukraine.
At the same time, Moscow is preparing to launch a counteroffensive in the southern Russian region of Kursk, the site of Kyiv’s only major military success this year.
Zelensky admitted the situation in Ukraine’s east was “indeed difficult.”
“There is a slow but steady pressure and advance of the Russians,” he said, adding that they had been waiting for the delivery of some weapons for 12 months.
However, the Ukrainian leader highlighted that Russia’s advances had come at a heavy price for Moscow’s forces, saying they were losing up to 2,000 men per day.
“These are terrible losses,” he said. “They cannot keep advancing with such losses.”
A phone call on Friday between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin drew criticism from Zelensky, who accused Scholz of opening a “Pandora’s box” that only works to undermine efforts to isolate Russia’s leader.
The conversation on Friday was the first time Scholz had spoken with Putin in two years.
CNN’s Ivana Kottasová contributed to this report.
A phone call on Friday between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin drew criticism from Zelensky, who accused Scholz of opening a “Pandora’s box” that only works to undermine efforts to isolate Russia’s leader.
The more western nations have tried to isolate Russia, the stronger its bonds have grown with China, Iran, India, Brazil, North Korea, and numerous other nations.
Zelensky may well value an end to the war more than the territories he expects to concede. It would be more irrational to try the same thing (if Harris had won) and expect a different outcome to the war.
You do realize those territories are not just land, right? There are millions of Ukrainians that live on that land that will now be under a dictator.
Zelenskiyy almost certainly realizes that without American support, which will almost certainly be ending, it’s a lost war. But at least you seem to recognize that Putin does not care about the 2000 Russian casualties that happen every day and would prefer to put millions of Ukrainians under his thumb.
You do realize those territories are not just land, right?
Please quote where you think I said this.
on that land that will now be under a dictator.
Ukraine is a free and fair democracy??
without American support, which will almost certainly be ending, it’s a lost war
Ukrainians were winning the war with US support??
Ukraine is a free and fair democracy??
Literally yes? How do you think Zelensky, a comedy actor, got elected?
Elections don’t negate the most corrupt governments in the world.
“Literally” use Google to see any of the numerous sources stating the fact that Ukraine is far below average in terms of corruption and democracy.
Zelensky was elected in 2019 specifically on an anti-corruption platform and in the past 4 years even with the war going on he’s made (somewhat) steady progress towards that end.
Admittedly the pressure from the US to clean up the administration in exchange for weapons has given Zelensky a lot more political leeway to oust corrupted officials.
Also Statista is notorious for cherry-picking data and not presenting the whole story. If you dig deeper into The actual report you’ll see that Ukraine has been making steady gains against corruption since 2013. The organization even Specifically commends the country for making inroads into corruption:
Although it still scores low, war-torn Ukraine (33) is one of few significant improvers on the CPI, having gained eight points since 2013. The country has long struggled with systemic abuse of power, but has taken important steps to improve oversight and accountability.
The source you cite lists 103 nations as less corrupt than Ukraine and only 76 measurably more corrupt. Ukraine is far below average.
Taking measures is not equivalent to making gains. Reality is reality, no matter what level of optimism you have.
Why trust your out of date sources instead of recent headlines regarding corruption amidst a reconstruction estimated at almost half a trillion dollars?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/corruption-overshadows-ukraines-multi-billion-064357386.html
Уже перевёл 1000 рублей на ваш счёт, Вова
The article you linked shows great progress towards a reduction of corruption in Ukraine.
Elections don’t negate the most corrupt governments in the world.
I mean yes they do have a massive corruption problem, and (this is important) they’re working on it. And either way it remains a fact that they have a much more democratic government than Russia.
Corruption is thought to be exponentially worse in recent yearswith Zelensky publicly firing corrupt military figures.
There are almost a hundred other countries that rank less corrupt than the Ukrainian government.
The territories in dispute are unlivable minefields for the next few generations as per Vietnam.
America wasted billions already showing no understanding of Ukraine.
At most, 34% Americans can find Ukraine on a map.
https://pro.morningconsult.com/instant-intel/can-americans-find-ukraine-on-a-map
Not including Russia which is far more corrupt
Compared to Russia, Ukraine is a free and fair democracy. They are much higher on the democracy index compared to Russia. The parts under the Russian regime are currently far from it though.
Ukrainians were winning the war with US support?
Considering Russia is having to use third rate mercenaries and troops from around the world, clearly Putin knows that the Russian populace does not have the appetite to keep losing 1-2k every day. He is hard up enough to have to get a week’s worth of casualties from North Korea. They may be making territorial gains but that is at a massive cost.
Do you expect me to move along to your new goalpost, and pretend Ukraine is a real democratic state despite ranking behind 91 other states including Sierra Leone and Myanmar. Index
While you spout nonsense about democracy, most westerners have declared their utter dissatisfaction.
A record-low 28% of Americans are satisfied with the way democracy is working in the United States, down from 35% in early 2021 (Source: “American satisfaction with democracy at record low: Gallup”, published January 6, 2024).
I had imagined only children would be so naive as to think Putin values the lives of the soldiers he sacrifices.
They may be making territorial gains but that is at a massive cost.
He’s not wrong, it’s just not going to end the way he wants it to end.
That’s what he’s saying…
Unfortunately, that’s not how it’s being interpreted by conservative and “liberal” (i.e. centrist) media.
The current period of the war will maybe end faster.
The problem is that Russia will not see this as as the end of the war, but rather a pause for a few years.
