Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Russia’s war in Ukraine will end “swiftly” when Donald Trump becomes President of the United States. Speaking in a radio interview with Ukraine’s state broadcaster Suspilne, Zelensky acknowledged that the situation is difficult on the battlefield, where Russia is taking advantage of its advantage in manpower and weapons.
Volodymyr Zelensky, referring to the Trump administration, said the war would end “rapidly with the policy of the team that will now lead the White House.” “This is their vision, this is their promise to their society, and it’s very important to them as well,” he added, according to CNN. Zelensky stressed that on the Ukrainian side, “we must do everything so that the war can end next year through diplomatic means.”
Trump, who was elected for a second term earlier this month, has repeatedly claimed that if he had been president, the Ukraine-Russia war would not have started. In July he said he could resolve the war in a day – although he did not explain how he would do so. During his election campaign, the newly elected President and his running mate, J.D. Vance expressed serious doubts about America’s continued commitment to Kiev.
The war has been going on for more than two years since a large-scale invasion by Russian forces in February 2022. Russia is making advances at key positions on the fronts in eastern and south-eastern Ukraine and is getting closer to key centers such as Kurakhovo. Russia claimed on Saturday that it had captured two more eastern settlements in the Donetsk region, although there was no confirmation from Ukraine.
At the same time, Moscow is preparing to launch a counter-offensive in the southern Russian region of Kursk, the site of Kiev’s only major military success this year. Zelensky acknowledged that the situation in the eastern part of Ukraine is “really difficult”. “The Russians are continuing their slow but steady pressure and advance,” said Zelensky, who has been waiting 12 months for some weapons delivery.
However, the Ukrainian leader noted that Russia’s advances have come at a heavy cost to Moscow’s forces, saying they are losing up to 2,000 soldiers a day. “These are terrible losses,” he said. “They cannot move forward with such losses.”
Tags: Donald Trump, Russia ukraine war, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky
FIRST PUBLISHED : November 16, 2024, 10:00 PM IST