Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that Ukraine currently lacks the strength to recover territories occupied by Russian forces, indicating that only diplomatic pressure on Moscow could bring an end to the ongoing conflict.
Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, it has controlled roughly 80 percent of the Donbas region, which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk areas. Additionally, Russia maintains some control over Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, with intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces occurring across these territories.
Zelensky, in an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien, stated that although Ukraine claims these regions, they are now under de facto Russian control. “We do not have the strength to recover them,” he admitted, underscoring the difficulty of reversing Russian territorial gains.
Initially, in 2022, President Zelensky issued a decree prohibiting peace talks with Russia, but his stance appears to be evolving. When questioned about the possibility of negotiations with Moscow, Zelensky did not rule it out but emphasized the importance of diplomatic pressure from other nations. He noted, “It’s not about who sits across from you, it’s about the position you’re in when negotiating,” adding that while Ukraine’s position is not weak, it is not strong either.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russian troops have the upper hand across the front lines in Ukraine, accelerating their advances. During a televised meeting with his military generals, Putin stated, “Russian troops are firmly holding the strategic initiative along the entire line of contact.” He also highlighted Russia’s seizure of 189 Ukrainian settlements this year, calling 2024 a “landmark year” for the goals of the “special military operation,” the term Russia uses for its invasion.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov reported that Russian forces had captured almost 4,500 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in 2024, gaining approximately 30 square kilometers per day.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Putin has also accused the West of pushing Russia to its “red lines” and made alarming threats regarding Russia’s missile deployment. He warned that if the U.S. proceeds with the deployment of short- and medium-range missiles, Russia would lift its voluntary restrictions on missile deployment.
In a more direct escalation, Putin authorized the launch of a never-before-seen hypersonic missile, Oreshnik, which struck the city of Dnipro in Ukraine. This missile, capable of reaching speeds over 8,000 mph, was fired less than 24 hours after Ukraine reportedly targeted Russian positions in the Kursk region with British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Debris from the missile was recovered in a Ukrainian weapons forensics facility.
As the situation intensifies, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has criticized President Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use Western long-range missiles, calling it a “foolish” move. Trump has promised to end the war within a day of taking office next month. Under Trump’s proposed plan, Ukraine would continue receiving U.S. military aid but would be required to engage in peace talks with Russia or face potential cuts in support. The plan also suggests freezing the front line, suspending Ukraine’s NATO membership application, and partially lifting sanctions against Russia.
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Putin has indicated that any peace agreement would require Ukraine to agree to surrender Crimea and the four regions currently under Russian control. Speculation about a potential peace deal has been further fueled by reports of significant casualties among North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk border region. While details on the exact number of casualties remain scarce, U.S. officials have confirmed that North Korean forces, who have been deployed alongside Russian units in largely infantry positions, are suffering high losses due to their lack of battlefield experience.
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The conflict, now approaching its third year, continues to evolve, with both sides making significant territorial and military moves, while diplomatic solutions remain elusive.
