NOS News • yesterday, 14:13 Zelensky wants to end the war in Ukraine next year through diplomatic means
Ukraine must do everything to end the war with Russia through diplomacy next year. President Zelensky says this in an interview with a Ukrainian radio station. Yesterday he already said that the war "will end faster" now that Trump is again president of the US.
In the transcript, Zelensky acknowledges that the situation on the front in eastern Ukraine is "difficult." The Russian army has recently stepped up its pace and is advancing faster than before. Trump's return to the White House is accelerating diplomatic developments surrounding the war.
Zelensky says he will not discuss ending the war with Trump until after the Republican is inaugurated, a ceremony scheduled for January 20. "What his vision is and how we want to respond to that, I can only say after meeting with Trump."
The two had a brief phone call recently after Trump's election victory. In that conversation, Trump reiterated, according to Zelensky, that he wants an end to the war, "and wants to help." The two met in New York in September.
Central and Eastern Europe correspondent Christiaan Paauwe "Zelensky is torn: on the one hand, he doesn't want Western leaders to talk to Putin. For example, he was clearly not happy that German Chancellor Scholz had a phone conversation with the Russian leader for the first time in years on Friday. On the other hand, Zelensky says that the war must end next year through diplomacy. That can only be done by talking to Russia.
It is also striking that Zelensky now says that parts of his 'victory plan' must be included in the negotiations. This indicates that he is prepared to make concessions. Ukrainians are exhausted after almost three years of war and there are increasing calls for occupied territories to be given up - at least for the time being.
However, it is crucial for Kyiv that there are security guarantees in return that prevent Russia from starting over again in a few years. Even if the West - soon under the leadership of the new American president - can offer that, it remains to be seen whether Russia is also serious about negotiations. Zelensky has little confidence in that in any case."
In the interview published today, the Ukrainian leader says that "elements of our victory plan" must return to the negotiating table. That choice of words suggests that Zelensky is prepared to compromise.
The president presented his vision for a "just" end to the conflict to the Ukrainian parliament last month. Zelensky made five demands to his allies, but NATO reacted cautiously to the "victory plan."
Zelensky previously discussed his plan with current US President Biden. The Democrat did not openly respond to it. Behind the scenes, high-ranking officials said they did not consider the plan realistic.
Turned tone The tone has changed , Eastern Europe expert Bob Deen told Nieuwsuur this week . He has just returned from Ukraine, where he was invited by the government to think about possible routes to peace. "I met Ukrainians who were prepared to talk seriously about what Russia would need to stop this war," the expert said. "I have never experienced this before."
As Ukraine’s main military ally and the country with by far the most military bases worldwide, the US is essential to provide security guarantees to Kyiv. Therefore, all eyes are on Trump and his policies.
Calling Putin "I think Putin doesn't want peace," Zelensky said in the interview. "But that doesn't mean he doesn't want to sit at the negotiating table." Trump has consistently said he wants to end the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible.
According to anonymous sources, Trump called Putin last week . He is said to have urged the Russian president "not to escalate" the war in Ukraine. The team of the incoming US president has denied these reports.
Yesterday it became clear that German Chancellor Scholz had called the Russian president . He is one of the few EU leaders who have spoken to Putin in the past two years.
Scholz said he had called on Putin to be "ready to negotiate with Ukraine." The Russian president has consistently said the country is open to such talks, but has made far-reaching demands. For example, Moscow says Ukraine should not join NATO and should give up four regions, some of which are not even fully occupied by Russia.
