Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Russia began losing its battlefield leadership in December 2025, leading him to believe there’s potential for diplomatic negotiations by next winter, contingent on continued sanctions pressure from the U.S. and Europe. In an interview with “Face the Nation,” he asserted that Russia’s monthly troop losses are substantial and that it can no longer seize territory faster than Ukraine can reclaim it.
Zelenskiy emphasized the importance of exploring diplomatic avenues but warned against easing sanctions, which he believes would bolster Russia’s military capabilities. He highlighted that Russian oil constitutes only 5% of global supply, thus lifting sanctions wouldn’t significantly affect world energy prices. He expressed concerns that concessions might be seen as weakness by Russia, advocating for stronger sanctions instead.
For future negotiations, Zelenskiy mentioned potential representatives from Europe, such as the E3 (Britain, France, Germany) and Nordic countries, emphasizing that Ukraine will decide who represents Europe in talks, but stressed that Russia must show readiness for dialogue.
Source link
