Ukraine’s Zelenskiy States US Actions Could Resolve Russian War Next Year, According to Reuters

By Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas

Decisive actions by the United States could accelerate the conclusion of the Russian war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Monday. In an interview, he expressed that Ukraine is "closer to the end of the war."

As he communicated on his Telegram channel following a meeting with a bipartisan U.S. Congressional delegation, Zelenskiy emphasized the potential for enhanced cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. "Decisive action now could hasten the just end of Russian aggression against Ukraine next year," he asserted.

Zelenskiy is currently in the U.S. for the U.N. General Assembly and is scheduled to visit Washington later this week to present his "victory plan," aiming to influence White House policy regarding the conflict regardless of who wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election on November 5.

In a related development, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed, without evidence, that Zelenskiy preferred a Democratic victory in the upcoming election. The presidential office in Kyiv has not responded to requests for comment, but Zelenskiy has previously stated his willingness to collaborate with any future U.S. president.

During his interview, Zelenskiy called on Washington and its allies to maintain their support for Ukraine. The U.S. and its partners have contributed a multi-billion dollar assistance package to Ukraine and instituted several sanctions against Russia.

"I believe we are closer to peace than we might imagine," Zelenskiy noted. "We are closer to the end of the war."

The conflict, which started when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and referred to it as a "special military operation," has resulted in significant casualties, mass displacement, and widespread destruction across Ukrainian cities.

In the ABC interview, Zelenskiy insisted that only from a "strong position" could Ukraine pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease hostilities. He has revealed little about his "victory plan," stating that it would serve as a "bridge" to a Ukraine-led summit on peace intended for later in the year, with hopes of inviting Russia.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, disclosed in New York on Monday that the plan includes expedited NATO membership for Ukraine, which Russia has firmly rejected.

Putin has maintained that peace negotiations can commence only if Kyiv relinquishes territories in eastern and southern Ukraine to Russia and abandons its aspirations to join NATO. In contrast, Zelenskiy has consistently called for the withdrawal of all Russian forces and the restoration of Ukraine’s post-Soviet borders.

Currently, Russia occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory and has made advances in the eastern region, capturing numerous settlements to seize control of the entire Donbas area.

In an assertive move to regain initiative, Ukrainian forces attacked into Russia’s western Kursk region on August 6, maintaining control over several villages on Russian territory. Zelenskiy remarked that the Kursk operation revealed vulnerabilities in Putin’s position, even as Russian military efforts in Donbas continue.

"He is very afraid," Zelenskiy commented. "Why? Because his people see that he can’t defend all his territory."

Ukraine and Western nations have characterized Russia’s actions as reminiscent of imperial wars, while Putin has framed the invasion as a defensive response to an aggressive West.