Ukraine-Russia War Not In 'Stalemate', Says Zelenskky. Rules Out Pressure For Peace Talks

Russia-Ukraine War: Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied that the war with Russia had reached a 'stalemate' saying that more work with allies was required to strengthen air defences.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. ( Image Source :PTI )

Russia-Ukraine War: As the Russia-Ukraine war completes 20 months, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied on Saturday that the war with Russia had reached a “stalemate”, as reported by the news agency Reuters. He also refused the idea that Western countries are pressuring Kyiv to hold peace talks with Russia. The Ukrainian President said that more work with allies was required to strengthen air defences.

“Today time has passed and people are tired. But this is not a stalemate,” Zelenskiy said during a news conference with visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as quoted by Reuters. “Russia controls the skies. We care about our military,” he stated. Zelenskyy also said, “No one among our partners is pressuring us to sit down with Russia, talk to it, and give it something,” as quoted by The Guardian.

His remarks came days after Ukraine’s Commander-in-chief, General Valery Zaluzhnyi, said that the conflict was moving towards a new stage of static and attritional fighting, a phase that could allow Russia to reconstruct its military power.

Zelenskiy also admitted that there had been difficulties in the war and that his country had yet to achieve any major successes in its counteroffensive. But he stated that Ukrainian troops had no other alternative but to keep fighting and needed additional support from Western allies, especially with air defences.

Speaking on the Israel-Gaza war, Zelenskiy said that the war had also diverted attention away from Ukraine, and this was “Russia’s goal”. “Of course, it’s clear that the war in the Middle East, this conflict, is taking away the focus,” Zelenskiy said, as quoted by The Guardian. “We have already been in very difficult situations when there was almost no focus on Ukraine. I am absolutely sure we will overcome this challenge,” he added.