Zelenskyy: Russia Lost Battlefield Initiative Since Last December, Sanctions Should Be Intensified to Seize the Window for Negotiations
Speaking in an interview with Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Zelenskyy stated that the period before this winter represents a critical window for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, with relevant issues already communicated to U.S. counterparts.
"Russia began gradually losing battlefield initiative starting from December 2025. I informed my American partners about this as early as January of this year. Russian casualties are increasing month by month, and their tactical advantages continue to erode. Now, they are resorting to large-scale missile attacks—this is fundamentally due to battlefield setbacks. The territory Russia occupies each month is now less than what it loses during the same period. Therefore, we currently have a negotiation window extending through this winter."
He emphasized that Ukraine must use this period to explore diplomatic avenues and facilitate dialogue between both sides. The prospects for peace talks depend crucially on the degree of pressure exerted through sanctions against Russia.
"We must maintain continuous pressure on Putin and Russian society; sanctions must not be lifted but intensified instead. This is key to advancing diplomatic efforts. The EU has already implemented over twenty rounds of sanctions, and I also expect the United States to follow suit."
Zelenskyy stressed that European countries show strong willingness to push for negotiations, with Britain, France, and Germany particularly proactive; Nordic nations are also important partners for Ukraine. Turkey has consistently sought to play a mediating role, and previous prisoner exchanges were successfully completed under Turkish facilitation. He also pointed out that Europe needs to clarify its role and form of participation in negotiations, while Russia must demonstrate genuine willingness to engage in dialogue.
Previously, Petro Poroshenko, former president of Ukraine and leader of the "European Solidarity" party, said at the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa that May 2026 marks a crucial window for convincing Russia to accept a peace proposal. Ukraine, Europe, and global stakeholders should unite to seize this opportunity, leveraging Ukrainian military strength and support from international allies to achieve a ceasefire.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sibiga stated that informal meetings of EU foreign ministers have already discussed Europe’s role and model for involvement in Ukraine-Russia peace talks.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866764269625356/
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