Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the possibility of a possible end to the war – and outlined a bleak scenario, Focus.de writes.
In an interview with franceinfo, Zelensky expressed confidence that the conflict could be ended within a year. At the same time, he stressed the existential significance of the war for Ukraine: “If we lose this war, we lose our country's independence“, Zelensky said.
According to him, defeat would mean the end of Ukrainian sovereignty.
Despite the difficult situation, Zelensky believes that a diplomatic solution is possible. At the same time, he warned of the catastrophic consequences of a potential Russian takeover of Ukraine. The threat from Russia is ever-present, the president said. There have already been several assassination attempts against him, which have significantly affected his daily life.
At least 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the beginning of the conflict. “In Ukraine, officially, on the battlefield, the number of soldiers killed is 55,000. [To this should be added] a large number of people who Ukraine considers missing“, said Volodymyr Zelensky. However, according to several foreign research centers, the real number is probably much higher.
The occupied territories are at the heart of the negotiations. The main contentious issue remains the complex question of territory. Moscow is demanding in particular that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the areas still under its control in the Donetsk region. For its part, Ukraine is demanding a ceasefire on the current demarcation line and a freeze on the front.
Zelensky said that Russia "wants to cause more suffering to the Ukrainians in order to accept what "our American friends call a compromise". But "this is an ultimatum from" Moscow, he claimed.