President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced updated figures on the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and commented on Russia’s attempts to assassinate him, as well as possible conditions for ending the war.
He said this in an interview with the French television channel France 2.
Losses of the Ukrainian army
At the end of the interview, the President of Ukraine was asked about the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed on the front line.
“Officially, in Ukraine, the number of soldiers killed on the battlefield—both professional servicemen and those who were mobilized—stands at 55,000,” Zelenskyy said.
He also noted that there are “many people whom Ukraine considers missing in action.”
Attempts to assassinate Zelenskyy
Separately, the President spoke about constant threats from Russia.
“When we talk about fear, you know, Russia has already tried to kill me several times. In a way, I no longer feel the fear I had at the beginning of the war. I have gotten used to it – it is part of my life,” Zelenskyy said.
Possible scenarios for ending the war
Commenting on prospects for ending the war, the head of state expressed hope for peace within a year.
“Peace in Ukraine is expected in less than a year—I have such hope. Since the beginning of this war, the Russians have not achieved a single victory,” he noted.
Zelenskyy also stressed that losing sovereignty is unacceptable.
“If we lose our independence, if we become part of Russia, it will be an absolutely terrible loss. And I am confident this will not happen.”
The cost for Russia of capturing Donbas
Speaking about fighting in eastern Ukraine, the President emphasized the high price for the Russian army.
“To conquer the entire Donbas, they would need another 800,000 corpses. They will not last that long,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that even freezing the current front line would already be a serious concession by Ukraine.
Context
Earlier, Zelenskyy said that since February 2022 Ukraine has lost more than 46,000 soldiers killed and around 380,000 wounded. Ukrainian authorities have also repeatedly reported Russian attempts to assassinate the country’s leadership since the start of the full-scale invasion.
European leaders periodically discuss the possibility of resuming dialogue with Moscow, but Ukraine insists that any negotiations are possible only with the preservation of sovereignty and real security guarantees.
Previously, The Ukrainian Review reported that a peace plan to end the war between Ukraine and Russia currently provides for the signing of a framework agreement between Kyiv and Washington, while the United States would conclude a separate document with Moscow.
