President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hopes Ukraine can achieve peace with Russia in less than a year, stressing that the war remains existential for the country but that diplomacy is still possible.
Speaking in a pre-recorded interview with French broadcaster France 2, cited by Le Monde, Zelensky said the war directly threatens Ukraine’s survival as an independent state.
“If we lose this war, we will lose the independence of our country,” the president said.
He called the loss of Ukraine’s independence “absolutely terrible,” but expressed confidence that such a scenario would not materialize.
“If we lose our independence, if we become part of Russia, it will be an absolutely terrible loss. And I am sure that this will not happen,” he said.
“I hope that peace will be achieved in less than a year,” the president added.
Zelensky also said he himself is constantly under threat from Russia.
He said he has become “accustomed to fear,” adding that since the start of the full-scale war Moscow has tried to eliminate him several times.
“When we talk about fear, you know, Russia has already tried to eliminate me several times. In a sense, I no longer feel the fear that was at the beginning of the war. I am used to it - it is part of my life,” he said.
According to Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin is afraid of only one person in the world - US President Donald Trump.
“Putin is not afraid of Europeans. Putin is only afraid of Trump, that is a fact. What Trump has to say to Putin is none of my business,” he said.
Zelensky once again recalled that the US president wants to end the war in Ukraine through compromise. But Ukraine, despite supporting US proposals, will not compromise on its own sovereignty.
He also referred to his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying its main point was that democracy alone cannot defeat Putin.
“Democracy cannot defeat Vladimir Putin, who does not respect the rules of war,” Zelensky said.
The president also commented on the possibility of resuming dialogue with Moscow, a topic currently being discussed in Europe. According to him, pressure on Putin remains insufficient, and any negotiations are possible only if certain conditions are met.
“Putin is interested in humiliating Europe,” Zelensky said.
He added that talks with Russia without real leverage would not bring results and could only strengthen the Kremlin’s position.
Zelensky also disclosed that 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers are officially listed as killed in action. He added that a “large number” of troops are missing.
This marks his first update on Ukraine’s military losses since February 2025, when he reported 46,000 dead.