Kyiv, Feb 6: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his willingness to engage in peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing that the United States and Western nations must play a crucial role in facilitating negotiations. In a recent YouTube interview, Zelensky revealed the staggering toll of the war, stating that 45,100 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 390,000 wounded since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began on February 24, 2022.

Acknowledging the prolonged battlefield conflict, Zelensky stressed that if negotiations were the only path to peace, Ukraine would be prepared to pursue them. However, he made it clear that he would be unyielding in any discussions with Putin, stating that he considers the Russian leader an enemy and believes the sentiment is mutual. He asserted that any negotiations must include the United States, Europe, Ukraine, and Russia, but Ukraine would never recognize Russian occupation of its territory.

Zelensky claimed that over 3.5 million Russian soldiers have been killed, with another 700,000 wounded or missing, though these figures remain unverified. He also criticized Western nations, arguing that the support provided so far has not been sufficient to push Russian forces out of Ukraine. He remained firm in his stance that sanctions against Russia should not be lifted, warning that doing so could encourage further aggression in the future. Ukrainian officials, including Keith Kellogg and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, have been in contact with Washington to discuss security matters.

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has frequently spoken about Ukraine during his election campaign, has claimed that he could end the war in a single day, though he has yet to elaborate on how he would achieve this. Since the beginning of the war, the United States has provided approximately $63 billion in military and financial aid to Ukraine. Trump has also proposed an agreement involving “Marth minerals” in exchange for continued U.S. support for Ukraine.

As the war enters its third year, Zelensky remains firm in his resistance against Russian occupation, while the future of peace negotiations remains uncertain.