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8 January, 11:46
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War with Russian could end in first half of 2026, says Zelenskiy

The war with Russia could end in the first half of 2026 if diplomatic efforts continue and international support for Kyiv remains strong, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday.

His remarks came amid intensified peace talks involving Ukraine, EU and the United States. “We note that negotiations have hit a new milestone together with our European partners and, of course, the United States and all members of the Coalition of the Willing,” Zelenskiy said during the visit to Cyprus as the island took over presidency of the Council of the EU for the period of six months.

“We understand that this war could end during Cyprus’ presidency [of the Council of the EU],” Zelenskiy said. The island’s presidency will end in June.

The remarks marked the rare note of cautious optimism voiced by Zelenskiy since the start of the full-fledged unleased by Russian in February 2022. Zelenskiy’s comments also mark a shift toward hope within the Ukrainian authorities over peace talks, while highlighting the role of international diplomacy and meaningful security guarantees for bringing an end the war.

Addressing the opening ceremony of Cyrpus’ EU Council presidency, Zelenskiy also reiterated his earlier remarks that stronger economic sanctions must be imposed on the Kremlin.

“A new [sanctions] package is in the works, and many steps are being taken to strangle Russia’s shadow fleet [of oil tankers], because every dollar Russia loses is a loss for it as an aggressor,” Zelenskiy said.

Earlier on January 7 Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council Rustem Umerov said Ukrainian and US officials agreed in Paris to hold further high-level talks to discuss key elements of a plant to end the nearly four-year-war.

“We held another round of consultations with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Ambassador [to France] Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner, and White House official Josh Gruenbaum. It was the third meeting with the American side in two days in Paris,” Umarov explained. It should be note that during the Coalition of the Welling summit heled in Paris on January 6, Ukraine, the UK and France signed a declaration of intent on the post-war development of Franco-British forces on Ukrainian soil.