Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed Ukraine’s autonomy in determining its approach to ending the war, stating, “It is up to Ukraine to decide what should and should not be on the agenda for ending this war.”
He also described his conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday as “productive.”
On Thursday, Zelensky expressed cautious optimism, saying, “We cannot yet know what his specific actions will be. But we hope that America will become stronger.”
He emphasized that “this is the kind of America that Europe needs. And a strong Europe is what America needs.”
Zelensky reiterated that Kyiv remains committed to pursuing “peace through strength” rather than yielding territory or adopting neutrality.
Zelensky added that any leader who respects international law should recognize that “predators always demand more and more.”
The Ukraine-Russia war began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. As of 2024, the death toll among civilians has exceeded 10,000, according to the United Nations. Millions have been displaced both within Ukraine and across neighboring countries.
Trump has repeatedly asserted that the Ukraine-Russia conflict would not have begun if he had been in office and has vowed to bring the war to an end. In some statements, he has claimed he could stop the long-running conflict even before taking office, remarking in July that he could resolve it in “one day.”
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then