President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine has emphasised the potential for definitive actions from the United States to accelerate the conclusion of the war against Russia next year. His remark came on Monday evening following his conversation with ABC News where he expressed optimism about an impending end to the war.
Zelenskiy mentioned on his Telegram channel after engaging with a cross-party delegation from the US Congress: “With the year nearing its end, there exists a tangible opportunity to bolster the alliance between the United States and Ukraine. Prompt, resolute action could potentially expedite the cessation of Russia’s antagonistic operations in Ukraine next year.”
The Ukrainian president is presently in the United States attending the UN General Assembly. Later in the week, he plans to head to Washington to unveil his ‘victory plan’ and intends to shape White House war policy, regardless of the result of the US election set for November 5th.
Zelenskiy holds the belief that US measures could terminate the war by next year. On Monday, Donald Trump, the Republican presidential hopeful – who promises to stop the war rapidly if victorious – alleged without proof that Zelenskiy anticipates a Democratic triumph in November’s election.
The presidential office in Kyiv has yet to offer a response to such assertions; however, Zelenskiy has pledged to cooperate with any occupant of the White House in the past.
In his discussion with ABC News, Zelenskiy encouraged the United States and other allies to persist in backing Ukraine. Assistance in the form of a multi-billion dollar aid package has been given to Ukraine by Washington and its allies, accompanied by various stages of sanctions against Moscow.
Zelenskiy shared his conviction: “In my view, we stand closer to a resolution than is generally believed. The war is closer to its end.” The large-scale military assault by Russia on Ukraine, euphemistically termed a “special military operation” by Moscow, commenced in February 2022. This conflict has caused the death of thousands, displaced millions and devastated Ukrainian urban areas and towns.
In his dialogue with ABC, the Ukrainian leader maintained that only from a “strong position” could Ukraine compel the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, “to cease the war.”
President Zelenskiy of Ukraine has not revealed much about his forthcoming “victory plan,” only indicating that it is due to serve as a conduit to a second peace conference led by Ukraine and potentially including Russia later in the year.
During a meeting in New York, Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy’s Chief of Staff, disclosed that the plan would entail expedited membership of Ukraine into NATO, a prospect that Moscow sternly rejects.
President Putin of Russia states that peace negotiations will only commence if Ukraine cedes large swaths of its eastern and southern territories to Russia and abandons its aspirations to join NATO. Mr. Zelenskiy consistently advocates for the complete withdrawal of Russian forces and the reinstatement of the borders Ukraine had after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Currently, Russia holds dominion over roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory and continues to push eastwards, progressively taking over towns in a bid to claim the whole Donbas region.
In a daring countermove, Ukrainian forces launched an assault on Russia’s western Kursk region on August 6th, maintaining control over numerous Russian villages.
During an interview with ABC News, Mr. Zelenskiy stated that the Kursk operation unveiled Putin’s vulnerability, even as the latter’s military units continue to close in on their targets in Donbas.
“He is profoundly perturbed,” Zelenskiy declared. “Why? Because his populace bore witness to his inability to safeguard – to defend all his dominions.”
Ukraine and western countries assert that Russia’s actions are characteristic of an empire-like warfare. Putin, on the other hand, represents the incursion into Ukraine as a necessary defense against the threat posed by the West. – Reuters.