Zelenskyy Advocates Diplomacy to Finish Ukraine War Against Growing Difficulties

Though Russian President Vladimir Putin shows little interest in a peace accord, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a diplomatic conclusion to the conflict with Russia by 2025. Zelenskyy underlined in a radio broadcast Ukraine's will to reach peace but also noted Moscow's tactic of covering its military operation with discussions. Concurrent with this, the recent election triumph of former U.S. President Donald Trump has given a fresh angle since Russia shows readiness to negotiations under his mediation. Moscow, meanwhile, wants negotiations should represent its territorial claims over four partially seized Ukrainian areas.

For Ukraine, the battlefield conditions remain bleak as Russian forces advance close to Kurakhove and Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. Moscow's achievements signal the fastest development since the start of the war, hence increasing pressure on Kyiv. Citing a year-long hold-up in U.S. aid clearances, Zelenskyy blamed part of the difficulty on delays in equipping Ukrainian units. He did, however, show promise by declaring the deployment of recently equipped reserves and stressing Ukraine's rising domestic armament manufacturing, including four missile kinds now under testing.

Zelenskyy also underlined the value of U.S. support, suggesting that under Trump—who has promised to bring the war to an end without specifying his strategies—there is possibility for faster conflict settlement. Zelenskyy confirmed his eagerness to participate personally even though legal obstacles prevent Trump from being visited before his January inauguration. But his remarks highlighted a crucial question: can diplomatic initiatives strike a compromise between Ukraine's territorial integrity and the reality of an ongoing, terrible war?