Zelensky: ‘Russia is Not Winning’ — Ukraine in Best Position for 10 Months
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Russia-Ukraine War
KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an upbeat assessment of the state of the war, declaring that Ukraine is currently in its strongest battlefield position in nearly a year, while emphasizing that the focus should remain on bringing the conflict to a diplomatic end.
In an exclusive interview with Newsmax, Zelensky pushed back against narratives of Russian battlefield success, stressing that momentum has shifted in Ukraine’s favor over the last three quarters .
“By the way, they are not in a strong position, Russia. They are not winning. We are in the best position during the last 9–10 months, I mean, about the battlefield, but in any way, it’s better to stop the war.”
— President Volodymyr Zelensky
📈 A Positive Assessment
Zelensky emphasized that the current situation on the front lines is more favorable for Ukrainian forces than it has been for most of the past year. This assessment aligns with previous statements where Zelensky noted that the balance of territorial changes since the start of the year favors Ukraine, with more territory liberated than lost .
The President specifically dismissed claims of significant Russian territorial gains. According to Zelensky, Moscow’s assertions that it controls vast swathes of land—such as the entire Luhansk region—are baseless and are not supported by international partners .
Despite the improvement, Zelensky noted that the situation on the line of contact remains difficult and highly dynamic .
⚖️ The Need for Peace
Even with Ukraine holding a stronger hand, Zelensky prioritized the need to end the fighting. He noted that the ongoing American focus on the Middle East has reduced pressure on Russia.
“The problem is that the priority for the United States has now shifted to the Middle East,” he said, warning that without sustained pressure from Washington, Moscow will have little incentive to pursue genuine peace .
Zelensky revealed that Ukraine has resisted pressure from partners to scale back strikes on Russian energy infrastructure due to global energy concerns tied to the Middle East. Ukraine has been open to an energy ceasefire, but only if Russia stops attacking Ukrainian infrastructure first .
🤝 Differing Views with the U.S.
The interview also highlighted a continuing rift with the White House regarding the level of support for Kyiv. Zelensky directly criticized Vice President JD Vance’s stance on cutting aid, arguing that such moves effectively assist the Russian war effort.
“If the vice president is proud that he is not helping us, it means that he is helping the Russians, and I’m not sure that strengthens the United States,” Zelensky said .
He stressed that Russia “doesn’t respect weakness,” and that reducing support would weaken both Ukraine and the United States while emboldening Moscow .
This is a breaking story. Follow Reflecto News for continuous updates on the Russia-Ukraine war and international diplomacy.