Ukraine would like the conflict with Russia to stop by the end of the year, Vladimir Zelensky has suggested
Ukraine would like the fighting with Russia to end as quickly as possible to stop the loss of life, Vladimir Zelensky has said.
The Ukrainian leader was speaking with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state visiting Kiev. Zelensky thanked the Holy See for a “strong signal” of support to Ukraine.
“I think all of us understand that we have to finish the war, as soon as possible of course, not to lose people’s lives,” Zelensky said in English, according to the video posted on his Telegram channel.
Last week, Zelensky told the BBC he hoped to end the “hot stage” of the war “by the end of this year” and that no one wanted to keep the conflict going “for another ten years or longer.”
In the same interview, however, he clarified that his solution was for Ukraine’s allies in the West to agree on backing his “peace formula” and present it to Russia as a unified bloc.
The “peace formula” is a list of Zelensky’s demands first revealed in November 2022, ranging from Russia’s withdrawal from all territories Ukraine claims as its own – including Crimea and Donbass – payment of reparations, war crimes trials for the Russian leadership, and Ukraine’s membership in NATO. Moscow has rejected it as delusional. . ...more below