In a heartfelt interview aired on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his strong desire to end the ongoing war with Russia through diplomatic means by next year. 🕊️
\"On our part, we must do everything we can to ensure that this war ends next year. We have to end it by diplomatic means,\" Zelenskyy told Ukrainian radio. \"And this, I think, is very important.\"
Despite his optimism, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently not interested in a formal peace deal. \"But that does not mean he wouldn't sit down with a leader for talks. For him, such meetings are a means to break political isolation,\" Zelenskyy noted.
Interestingly, during a recent call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin indicated that Russia remains open to resuming talks that Ukraine had previously discontinued. According to a Kremlin readout, Putin emphasized that any agreement to end the conflict must consider Russian security interests, reflect \"new territorial realities,\" and address the original causes of the conflict.
On the ground, the situation remains tense. Zelenskyy conceded that the battlefield in eastern Ukraine is challenging, with Russian forces making advances. The Russian defense ministry announced control of two villages in Donetsk, as the conflict continues for over two years since February 2022.
As the world watches, Zelenskyy's push for diplomacy highlights the complex path toward peace in the region. Will diplomatic efforts pave the way for an end to the war? Only time will tell. 🌍💬✨
