Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is certain that the war will end "sooner" than it otherwise would have once Donald Trump becomes president.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would like to end the war with Russia next year through "diplomatic means" as both countries prepare for President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House.

In an interview with the Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, Zelenskyy said he is certain that the war will end "sooner" than it otherwise would have once Mr. Trump becomes president.

The prospect of Trump returning to power in the United States next year has raised questions about the future of the conflict, as the Republican has been critical of U.S. military aid to Kyiv.

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine "must do everything so that this war ends next year, ends through diplomatic means."

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  • Kieselguhr [none/use name]
    ·
    4 hours ago

    zelensky-navi I want to end the war diplomatically, but only next year. Sorry, but some of our people need to die until I do what I already decided to do

    It comes as German chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Mr Putin for the first time in nearly two years.

    The German leader urged Mr Putin to pull his forces out of Ukraine and begin talks with Kyiv that would open the way for a “just and lasting peace”, the German government said.

    The move was swiftly criticised by Mr Zelensky, who said the call had opened a “Pandora’s box” by undermining efforts to isolate the Russian leader.

    “Now there may be other conversations, other calls. Just a lot of words,” said Mr Zelensky in his evening address on Friday. “And this is exactly what Putin has long wanted: it is extremely important for him to weaken his isolation and to conduct ordinary negotiations.”

    zelensky-pain Diplomacy in 2024 is bad actually. Only next year!

    Truly the hero of our time.