Zelenskyy says the war will end sooner than expected; Russia does not seek to negotiate and wants Ukraine to surrender.

President Zelenskyy said that Russia’s war against Ukraine may end sooner than many expect and emphasized the importance of strengthening the Ukrainian army.

“The Victory Plan is to strengthen Ukraine. We are asking our allies to continue their support. This is critically important. I believe that we are closer to peace than many people think. We are closer to ending the war,” Zelenskyy said.

According to Ukraine’s president, Putin fears the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region, and Ukraine will be able to force Russia to stop the war only from a “position of strength.”

Also, ISW analysts say Russia continues to lack interest in peace talks. Its goal remains the capitulation of the Ukrainian government and the destruction of the Ukrainian state. The institute believes that Moscow uses the rhetoric of “peace plans” and “negotiations” as a tool to pressure the West, attempting to obtain concessions from Ukraine regarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.