Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has provided an update on the situation at the front.
As reported by Hvylya, he made the comments in an interview with the French news agency AFP.
Zelensky declared that Ukraine is not losing the war.
"One cannot say that we are losing the war. Honestly — we are definitely not losing, definitely. The question is whether we will win. But that is a very expensive question," he stated.
We will not surrender the Donbas
Washington and Moscow are openly pressuring Kyiv to renounce the Donbas region in exchange for a ceasefire. According to Zelensky, both sides are broadcasting the same message: if you want peace tomorrow, leave the Donbas. Ukraine categorically rejects this demand, emphasizing that any concession will only whet the aggressor's appetite.
Currently, Ukraine controls about one-fifth of the Donetsk region, while the Luhansk region is almost entirely occupied. Russia is threatening to seize the entire Donbas by force if Kyiv does not withdraw its troops.
300 kilometers of liberated land
Despite the pressure, Zelensky reported successes on the southern front. According to the president, Ukrainian forces have managed to recapture 300 square kilometers of territory, though he did not disclose specific details or timeframes. AFP was unable to independently verify these figures.
Parallel to this, communication disruptions continue due to the deactivation of Starlink terminals following a conflict between Kyiv and Elon Musk. Zelensky acknowledged this has created certain difficulties for the Ukrainian side, but assured that the consequences for the Russians are "much more serious."
Elections — only after the war
The United States and Russia are also demanding that Ukraine hold presidential elections as part of a peace plan. Zelensky rejected this idea, describing it as a Kremlin tool to remove him from power: "Let's be honest — the Russians just want to replace me." He emphasized that holding elections under active combat conditions would be destructive, noting that millions of Ukrainians are currently abroad or in occupied territories.
European troops — closer to the front
Regarding security guarantees, Zelensky was clear: Kyiv wants a European peacekeeping contingent deployed as close to the line of contact as possible, not deep in the rear. "Of course, nobody wants to stand on the first line — but that is exactly what Ukrainians would want from their partners," he said.
Earlier, Zelensky announced decisive negotiations in February and readiness for a meeting of leaders.
