"Fingers crossed" - Vitali Klitschko hopes for peace in Ukraine this year

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko hopes for peace in Ukraine this year, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.

“Fingers crossed“, Klitschko said last night, expressing his hopes that in 2025 a diplomatic solution will finally be found and the war will end.

The former heavyweight boxer, who has become a key figure in the Ukrainian resistance against the ongoing Russian invasion, made the statements while receiving the German human rights prize “Franz Werfel“ in Frankfurt.

With a view to the negotiations with Russia today in Istanbul, Klitschko said that the Ukrainian delegation was well prepared.

“This is a difficult task“, he admitted. “For now, we have more questions than answers.“ But nevertheless, the negotiations must continue and a solution must be found to achieve peace step by step, he said.

Expressing his gratitude for the human rights award, Klitschko said that it was for all the residents of Kiev and for the Ukrainian people who are courageously resisting the aggressor.

Russia's next targets could be elsewhere in Europe, Klitschko said, expressing hope that “everyone understands this“. The future safety and security of all of Europe will depend on how the war ends, he believes.

Klitschko, who has been mayor of the Ukrainian capital since 2014, also thanked Germany for its military and financial support, while also emphasizing the need for strict sanctions against Russia, especially in the energy and finance sectors.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the mayor of Kiev stands up for all those who have not lost faith in a free and democratic Ukraine.

According to the organizers of the award, it pays tribute to Klitschko's tireless commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights both in Ukraine and beyond.

Born in Kyrgyzstan, in the former Soviet Union, he is one of the most successful heavyweight boxers in history.

The award, which is The prize, worth 10,000 euros, is awarded every two years by the Wiesbaden-based Center Against Displacement, which documents displacement and ethnic cleansing.

The last winner of the prize was former Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in 2023, DPA recalls.