KYIV, Nov 16 (Reuters) – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine should take all necessary steps to bring about the end of the war with Russia by next year through diplomatic efforts. He made these remarks at a critical juncture following Donald Trump’s recent victory in the U.S. presidential elections and amid Russia’s ongoing military advances.

Despite this, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to engage in meaningful peace negotiations, suggesting that it is advantageous for Moscow to negotiate while continuing their military operations.

“We must do everything on our part to ensure that this war concludes next year through diplomatic means,” Zelenskyy stated in a Ukrainian radio interview aired on Saturday.

On Thursday, Moscow’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva remarked that Russia would consider discussions to end the conflict if initiated by Trump, but they would need to reflect “realities on the ground.”

This phrase typically implies that Ukraine would need to concede four regions currently occupied by Russian forces, which Russia claims in full.

Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, Zelenskyy has consistently maintained that lasting peace is only possible after all Russian troops are withdrawn and Ukrainian territories, including Crimea, are returned.

However, President Zelenskyy did not include a return to Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders from 1991 in his previously shared “victory plan.”

Zelenskyy indicated that the conflict may see a quicker resolution with Trump as president, asserting that Trump frequently stated during his campaign intentions to swiftly end the war, albeit without detailed plans.

Zelenskyy also noted that U.S. law currently prohibits him from meeting Trump until after his inauguration on January 20.

“We will do everything in our power to facilitate a meeting. We had a productive discussion in September,” Zelenskyy mentioned, emphasizing that he wishes to speak directly with Trump rather than through intermediaries.

Conditions in Eastern Ukraine

Zelenskyy acknowledged the challenging situation in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are making significant advances.

Currently, Russian troops are targeting Kurakhove, a location with a thermal power plant, situated just 7 km (4 miles) from Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub for Ukraine throughout the conflict.

In the eastern regions, Russian forces are advancing at their quickest pace since the early days of the war in 2022.

Zelenskyy highlighted various factors contributing to the challenging situation, including delays of up to a year in equipping military brigades, partly due to the U.S. Congress’s slow approval of aid last winter.

However, he stated that some of these brigades are now ready to participate in combat.

“To halt the Russian army, new reserves, equipped with the long-awaited gear, will be deployed now,” he affirmed.

Ukraine is working on increasing its domestic weapons production to reduce its reliance on foreign support. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is currently developing four types of missiles, which are in the testing phase.