The chief of staff for president Volodymyr Zelensky stated this week that there wo n’t be any” compromises” with Russia despite concerns that Moscow will try to retake control of the region after the counteroffensive last year failed.
One of the Zelensky government’s most prominent members, Andriy Yermak, told POLITICO that Ukraine will never accept any agreements that violate its borders and that Kyiv may not accept any terms that freeze the conflict’s lines.
” The Russians are not engaged in any agreements. They want the surrender of Ukraine. But it will never happen — all of us who are in Ukraine, we will not take any sacrifice on our democracy, on our regional dignity, on our freedom. And this president did not consent to anything resembling a frozen issue or the Minsk contracts. No, I’m convinced about that”, Yermak said.
Even though Kyiv failed to recover any significant area of country from the Russians last year and there are growing concerns about the possibility of Moscow starting a new offensive as the spring ground freezes, Zelensky’s government has stated that it will not engage in any discussions with the Kremlin unless Russia withdraws from all territories promised under its 1991 borders following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In his New Month’s address to the nation, Zelensky said that Ukraine would remain fighting until” Crimea, Donbas, Luhansk region, Berdyansk, Melitopol, Mariupol” are brought up under Russian control.
However, there are growing concerns about Ukraine’s ability to continue the fight against its far larger opponent, with yet Zelensky’s previous best general , Valerii Zaluzhny admitting last year that the war had devolved into a” stalemate” with drones making surprise attacks — a key strategy often used by smaller forces — essentially impossible. Zaluzhny had also advocated for the mobilization of 500, 000 more troops to fight Russia before being sidelined and sent abroad as the new ambassador to London.
Ukraine Rejects Ceasefire with Russia at Davos ‘ Peace’ Summit ahead of World Economic Forum Meetinghttps: //t. co/zyxaguIC8u
— Breitbart London ( @BreitbartLondon ) January 14, 2024
Zelensky has argued that a force of this nature is necessary, but this week he signed a long-awaited and contentious bill to increase conscription by lowering the minimum age from 27 to 25 in a bid to bolster the military’s ranks ahead of the anticipated push from Russia in the upcoming months. Given that thousands of more parents will now have to watch their sons go to war, the decision has potential serious political effects.
People may claim to be tired, but if you ask them if they want to compromise with Russia, they respond with adamantly, and the fact that people remain in Ukraine with their families is evidence that the public’s mood is still strong in general.
” Of course, it is only natural that people are tired — two years is a long time… But people still believe in our victory”.
It also comes amid concerns whether the United States, under a potential Trump presidency, will continue funding the war. While the Biden administration is seeking to send ,$ 64 billion in American taxpayer money and weapons to Ukraine, on top of the$ 113 billion  , already committed, there have been suggestions, including from Trump ally Viktor Orbán, that the presumptive Republican nominee and former president would cut off aid to force Ukraine to the negotiating table.
Trump has argued for his part that the conflict never would have begun under his leadership and that he would have the ability to end it “within 24 hours” if he were to return to the White House.
Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg has reportedly demanded a five-year$ 100 billion fund from member states to keep the money from pouring into the war for the foreseeable future, reportedly in an effort to prevent the alleged withdrawal of American funding. If American dollars dry up, it’s not clear whether the cash-strapped European countries would be willing to pay for the war.
In a diplomatically worded plea to Trump, Zelensky’s chief of staff said:  ,” I do n’t believe anybody who represents the party of Ronald Reagan will abandon Ukraine. Reagan understood the Soviet Union and Russia, and he and anyone who does will continue to support our fighters because they both know that dictators never voluntarily cessation and that they must be executed.
‘ Call Back Trump!’ Hungary’s Orbán Tells Tucker Only Trump Can End the Ukraine War and ‘ Save the Western World ‘ https ://t.co/1OQf4px2sK
— Breitbart London ( @BreitbartLondon ) August 30, 2023
