According to the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine could make peace with Russia even if it does not achieve the desired “complete victory“.
"Long-term peace will allow it to further develop and strengthen as a state," the former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces told Liga.net.
"We, Ukrainians, of course, strive for a complete victory. But we also cannot rule out the possibility of a long-term end to the war, because this is a very common method of ending wars in the history of wars. At the same time, peace, even in anticipation of the next war, offers a chance for political change, deep reforms, full-fledged recovery, economic growth and the return of citizens,“ he writes.
According to Zaluzhny, once peace is achieved, “we can even talk about the beginning of the formation of a secure, maximally protected state“ thanks to innovation and technology.
“Formation and strengthening of the foundations of a just state by combating corruption and creating a fair court. Economic development of the country, based on international economic programs for national renewal“, writes the current diplomat.
Zaluzhny noted that “war does not always end with victory for one side and defeat for the other“.
“This happened in World War II, but it is a rare exception, because this has almost never happened in human history. "Most wars end either with mutual defeat, or each side is confident of victory, or in some other scenario," the former commander-in-chief believes.
According to him, the fact that the situation "is not improving for Ukraine" is obvious. Zaluzhny had previously predicted that the Ukrainian army was facing "further deterioration" of the situation on the front. Back in late September, the former commander-in-chief said that the Ukrainian armed forces were losing ground.
In September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that victory for the country means its survival. He expressed the opinion that Russian President Vladimir Putin's goal is to control all of Ukraine.
“Until he can do this, victory will be ours. That is why for us, survival is victory. Because we survive thanks to our identity, our country, our independence,” Zelensky said.
In June, explaining why Russian troops were advancing beyond the territories included in Russia, Putin said he considered Russians and Ukrainians to be one people. “In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours,” he said, specifying that Russia proceeds from the realities developing on the ground.
In November, the United States presented its 28-point peace plan. After consultations with the EU and Ukraine in Geneva, Washington reduced the document to 22 provisions. US President Donald Trump intends to meet with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders when the plan reaches its final stage. In early December, US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow to discuss an interim peace plan with Putin.
On November 27, Putin said that Ukrainian troops should withdraw from the territories they occupied, "and then the fighting will stop." Kiev has said that there will be no territorial withdrawal while Volodymyr Zelensky is president.