Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday he was seeking “lasting peace” for his country, which Russia will not be able to “destroy in a few years” by launching a new conflict, comments which follow a meeting the day before with the president-elect American Donald Trump in Paris.
“I said we need a just and lasting peace, a peace that the Russians will not be able to destroy in a few years, as they have done many times in the past,” Mr. Zelensky said on Telegram, discussing this interview with Mr. Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral.
“When we talk about effective peace with Russia, we must first of all talk about effective peace guarantees,” he continued.
Mr. Zelensky also said 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 370,000 wounded since the start of the Russian invasion, confirming an approximate figure of 400,000 victims revealed on Saturday by Mr. Trump.
The Ukrainian president had only revealed once in the past, in February 2024, the extent of the official losses suffered by his army.
For its part, Russia does not communicate on its losses. These were calculated at more than 82,000 killed by the independent media Mediazona and the Russian service of the BBC, which are based on the exploitation of public information, such as official press releases, obituaries or death announcements. on social networks, as well as observing graves in cemeteries.
-| © AFP French President Emmanuel Macron, US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leave the Elysée to go to Notre-Dame de Paris after their meeting at the Elysée, December 7, 2024 in Paris |
“This is the reality of this war. It cannot end simply with a piece of paper and a few signatures,” pleaded Mr. Zelensky, calling for “guaranteeing the reliability of peace and not turning a blind eye to the occupation” of Ukrainian territories.
Volodymyr Zelensky has long been categorically opposed to any compromise with Vladimir Putin, but the Ukrainian president has softened his position in recent months, particularly in the face of the difficulties experienced by his soldiers on the front.
Mr. Zelensky said he also discussed “important issues related to the battlefield and the world situation” with Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron during their meeting in Paris.
