Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a press conference as the conflict with Russia neared two years and as support for Kiev began to waver in Europe and the United States.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, at his year-end press conference in the capital Kiev on December 19, dismissed doubts about Ukraine’s battlefield prospects as well as about the support of allies, and told the reporter that his country would not lose the war and was ready to negotiate with Russia, but only on its terms.
Ukraine’s military failed to achieve its goals in its summer counteroffensive, but Zelensky emphasized that it had strengthened its air defense capabilities and achieved military achievements in the Black Sea, while Russia “did not achieve any results” and suffered heavy casualties.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his army was taking the initiative in Ukraine and was ready to meet the goals of the military campaign he had launched.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to awarded officers after a meeting with top military officials in Moscow, Russia, December 19, 2023. Photo: AP/Stars&Stripes
Speaking at a meeting with top military officials on December 19, one day after he submitted documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to run again in the March presidential election. Later, Mr. Putin said: “Our army is taking the initiative, doing what we consider necessary and want to do. We are improving our position where it is needed.”
Back to Mr. Zelensky’s year-end press conference. When asked by journalists about when he expected the war against Russia to end, the President of Ukraine replied bluntly: “No one knows the answer.”
“Even those who are respected, our commanders and our Western partners, who say that this is a war that has been going on for many years, they do not know,” Mr. Zelensky told frankly. reporters when asked if he predicted the war would end by the new year.
Support wavered
President Zelensky’s press conference took place as the Russia-Ukraine conflict neared two years and as support for Kiev began to waver in Europe and the United States.
The White House announced on December 18 that US President Joe Biden is planning to send a final military aid package before the end of 2023 to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities against Russia, and then the Additional support for Kiev will require a “green light” from the US Congress.
When asked about his failed attempt to secure $60 billion in additional funding from the US after a grueling visit to Washington DC last week, Mr. Zelensky still expressed faith in Western allies. “I am confident that America will not betray us,” he told reporters.
Ukraine was also almost “empty-handed” after the European Union (EU) Leaders’ Summit last week, after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked an additional aid package worth 50 billion Euros (54 billion Euros). USD) for Kiev.
Commenting on the EU’s long-term aid package for Ukraine, Mr. Zelensky said making a decision on this aid package is “just a matter of time”, adding that he is sure this will be done. “in the near future”. He also said he hoped to speak privately with Mr. Orban about “solutions.”
During the year-end press conference, Mr. Zelensky also admitted that the 2024 US presidential election could affect US support for Ukraine. He made his most extensive comments to date on the impact of Ukraine continuing its war against Russia if Donald Trump is re-elected.
Without naming Mr. Trump, Mr. Zelensky said that if a future US President pursues “colder, or more inward-looking” policies, if they save more, these signals will have a very significant impact. about the progress of the war”. The Ukrainian leader compared the possibility of the US withdrawing to an important part being removed from the global security apparatus.
Many Western leaders have also expressed concern about Mr. Trump’s ability to be re-elected, including Czech President Petr Pavel, who told Seznam Zpravy newspaper on December 18 that the election in December November 2024 could cause a “significant change” in the war and America’s relationship with NATO members.
Not all is grey
Kiev’s army is currently facing its second winter in the war against Russia as brutal fighting takes place along the Eastern and Southern fronts, resulting in heavy losses on both sides. During the event on December 19, Mr. Zelensky presented the idea of the Ukrainian armed forces of mobilizing an additional 400,000-500,000 people to strengthen military strength, but said that he “needs more arguments to support it.” support this idea” before making a decision.
Recent polls show that Mr. Zelensky’s once sky-high approval ratings have declined and his support is waning as fighting continues to intensify. According to a survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), trust in Mr. Zelensky among the Ukrainian public has decreased from 84% to 62% over the past year. Kiev’s parliament scored even lower, with only 15% of respondents saying they trusted their lawmakers.
In contrast, the KIIS survey found that confidence in the Ukrainian armed forces remained steadfast among the public, with confidence in the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, at 88%.
Ukrainian soldiers hold positions on the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region, December 19, 2023. Photo: The Guardian
However, over the past year, not all has been gray for Ukraine. Ukraine’s leaders see some reason for hope in EU accession talks, which would draw the country closer to economic and political integration with the West and exit from the EU. Russian influence.
The war at sea also brought success even as the land war stagnated. Deploying an improved fleet of sea-explosive drones and cruise missiles supplied by Britain and France, Ukraine damaged or sank dozens of Russian warships and forced the Black Sea Fleet had to partially relocate from its headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea.
Using the Patriot air defense system, Ukraine has shot down some of the most sophisticated new weapons in Russia’s arsenal, such as hypersonic missiles that the Russians call Kinzhal, meaning Dagger, and known to NATO as Killjoy.
Mr. Zelensky said Ukraine will stand together in the fight against Russia. “Solidarity is our secret, it has helped protect us since the beginning of the war,” he said. Arousing the spirit of national unity may seem normal, but some normal things must be kept to achieve the ultimate normality of life.”