The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyrevealed this Monday the 26th for the first time how many deaths his army suffered in battles against the armed forces Russiarecognizing that 31,000 soldiers died. The Ukrainian head of state said this in a speech after the end of the conflict 2024 will be crucial to the outcome of the war.
The president did not want to reveal how many Ukrainian soldiers were injured, saying that this information could help Moscow. American intelligence officials' estimates are much higher, suggesting this 70,000 soldiers died It is 120,000 were injured during the conflict.
Zelensky also stated that the number of Russians killed was much higher than on the Ukrainian side (180,000).
Lack of weapons
In a speech in Kiev, Zelensky said he believed his country would win the war. This is despite recent military setbacks and dwindling flows of arms and aid from the West, leaving its forces particularly outgunned and low on ammunition. According to the Ukrainian president, his soldiers fired one in 12 projectiles fired by the Russians at the end of last year. The ratio was now one to seven. “You have a great superiority“, he admitted.
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Us USRepublican members of Congress have blocked a military and economic aid package $61 billion four months ago to Kyiv. The Ukrainian leader said he is confident that the US Congress will soon approve the new round of funding, which also includes air defense missiles to protect the capital and other cities.
“I am sure there will be a positive decision. Otherwise, I will ask myself what kind of world we live in,” Zelensky said.
The countries of European Union have sought to increase diplomatic and military support for Ukraine. The President of FranceEmmanuel Macron will welcome European heads of state and government to a conference this Monday.
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Decisive year
In the same speech, the President of Ukraine described the year 2024 as “a turning point” and said that the outcome of the US presidential election in November would be a key factor in the outcome of the war. If the former American President Donald Trump If he wins the race for the White House, he is expected to cut off aid to Kiev.
“This year will determine the shape of the end of the war,” Zelensky said.
In his opinion, there are no prospects for negotiations with Moscow. “Putin won’t call me. He doesn’t want to end the war,” he said. Zelensky's peace formula provides for the withdrawal of all Russian soldiers from Ukrainian territory, taking into account the 1991 borders (i.e. including Crimea, which was invaded by Russia in 2014), as well as reparations and a war crimes trial.
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The Ukrainian said there would be a peace summit in Switzerland “soon,” followed by another meeting on “another continent.” Russia is not expected to take part. The Kremlin claims that four Ukrainian provinces in the south and east including some areas it does not control are now Russian and that Ukraine must accept “new realities.”