Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Tuesday, August 27, that the ongoing conflict with Russia would eventually be resolved through dialogue. Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv, Zelensky indicated that he was planning to present potential diplomatic solutions, alongside discussions with potential successors like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
During the conference, Zelensky described Ukraine's three-week-long military incursion into Russia's Kursk region as part of a broader strategy. This plan includes various military, economic, and diplomatic steps aimed at pressuring Russia to cease hostilities.
"It will end with dialogue," Zelensky said, referring to the war triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. "The main point of this plan is to force Russia to end the war. And I want that very much — for it to be fair for Ukraine."
Zelensky also mentioned his intention to visit the United States in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he hopes to meet with President Joe Biden.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on August 19, dismissed the possibility of peace talks, especially following Ukraine’s major cross-border operation into the Kursk region on August 6.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Kyiv last week, spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone on Tuesday. Modi expressed his support for an early and peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, Zelensky remains firm that any settlement must not allow Russia to impose its terms, which Kyiv considers unacceptable.
Putin has insisted that any peace deal must start with Ukraine acknowledging the "realities on the ground," implying Russian control over four Ukrainian regions and Crimea. However, Ukraine now claims control over more than 1,200 square kilometers (463 square miles) of Russia's Kursk region, providing Kyiv with leverage in potential negotiations.
Zelensky criticized Putin's approach to the war, stating, "There can be no compromises with Putin. Dialogue today is essentially empty and meaningless because he does not want to end the war diplomatically." He argued that Ukraine's offensive into the Kursk region has reduced international pressure on Kyiv to compromise by ceding territory to Russia.
He further criticized Putin for prioritizing the capture of Ukrainian territory over defending Russian soil. He pointed to the Kursk region, where Ukraine claims to have taken control of around 100 settlements, even as Russian forces slowly advance in the eastern Donetsk region.
Additionally, Zelensky announced that Ukraine had successfully conducted its first test of a domestically produced ballistic missile, signaling Kyiv's ongoing efforts to strengthen its military capabilities amid the prolonged conflict.
As the war continues, Ukraine's stance remains firm: no concessions will be made that allow Russia to dictate terms or compromise Ukrainian sovereignty.
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