Zelenskyy: Ukraine is not losing the war, but is losing people and time

After talks with the American and European delegations in Oslo, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained why Ukraine wants to end the war against Russia as soon as possible. He outlined his position at a press conference on the results of the meeting.

Journalists asked the president what concessions the country was prepared to make and whether it could be said that it was losing the war.

“Ukraine is not losing the war,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.

Speaking about the negotiations, the president noted that the parties had discussed difficult and sensitive issues. At the same time, Kyiv’s main goal remains to end the hostilities.

“But we are losing people and time, because our children don’t have a real life or a childhood,” Zelenskyy said.

According to the president, ending the war as soon as possible is necessary to stop the losses and move on to rebuilding the country. That is why future negotiations must also address reconstruction.

Zelenskyy linked the need to end the hostilities primarily to the human cost of the war and its consequences for future generations.

We previously reported:

• Peace at the cost of Donbas? The US is preparing a new plan to end the war, with security guarantees and economic agreements
• Diesel fuel for negotiations: the US is banking on a deal, while Kyiv is skeptical
• Five ceasefire options: Ukraine is ready; Russia must take action
• Zelenskyy on compromises with Russia: the country’s interests must not be surrendered
• Kyiv discusses resuming trilateral talks and a winter package