President Volodymyr Zelensky predicts that Ukraine will face strong political and military pressure until September, while assuring that national interests will be safeguarded.
The head of state said this during a conversation with journalists, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
“If Russia chooses the path of de-escalation, I believe a trilateral meeting will take place. They will try to hold it in April, May, or June. I think these are key months for them. And I believe it will be very difficult for us until September,” Zelensky said in response to a question from Ukrinform.
In his view, the United States will not give unlimited time for negotiations within the current dialogue process.
“The United States, with the start of summer, will increasingly focus on its internal processes – on elections. I think they have a kind of domestic political deadline – around August. So, this spring-summer period will be quite difficult politically and diplomatically. There may be pressure on Ukraine, and it will also be felt on the battlefield. But we understand Ukraine’s national interests and what can guarantee our security,” the President said.
He stressed that it is important for sufficient pressure to be applied to Russia during this period as well.
“For example, partners could hold an absolutely unprecedented, historic, turning-point, and in a certain sense victorious NATO summit this year (expected to take place in Türkiye in July – ed.). But this depends on them – on what they are truly ready for and whether they responsibly assess the threats, which are not directed against one country, but against everyone,” Zelensky concluded.
As previously reported, Volodymyr Zelensky earlier announced that a trilateral meeting on ending the war in Ukraine is expected to take place soon. The exact format of the meeting has not yet been finalized.
