President calls it realistic to end hostilities by summer

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy considers it possible to end hostilities in the Russian war by the summer of 2026, if there is pressure from Washington on Moscow, the agreement on security guarantees and the reconstruction of Ukraine will be signed and the issue of the Ukrainian Donbas will be settled in the peace plan. The head of state said this during a conversation with journalists.

According to him, the ceasefire by this date depends not only on Ukraine, but also on America, which has to put pressure on Russia.

"If there is a desire not only from the Ukrainian side, but also from the aggressor, we will be able to end the hostilities by summer. Why? Because the phasing of this process depends, first of all, on security guarantees for Ukrainians. To know – not just to believe, but to know – that Russian aggression is impossible in the future. Or if it does, we will not be alone and we will have strong defense. These are security guarantees, first of all, from the United States, with a strong military package, etc. Therefore, the signing of this agreement depends today solely on the United States" the president said.

Regarding the agreement on the future reconstruction of Ukraine (prosperity package, English. "prosperity package"), then this requires both the United States and Europe's readiness to join the relevant processes, Zelenskyy explained. He added that Kyiv is ready for this.

The president noted that if there are agreements on security guarantees and reconstruction, then it will be possible to "go on" to 20-point peace plan: "Of course, these are parallel processes, but I believe that some kind of consistency in terms of confidence for our people is still needed."

If this plan finds "steps forward" in relation to the Ukrainian Donbas, the document that "should respect Ukrainians" will be put to a referendum, Zelenskyy added.

"It is possible to accomplish all of this before summer," he believes.

During the same communication with the media, the head of state denied the information on plans to announce elections and a referendum in Ukraine on February 24.

• On February 10 US ambassador to NATO Whitaker linked the fact that Ukraine and the US have not yet signed a security assurance agreement to the unresolved issue of territories.
• Zelenskyy said that Ukraine and Russia are skeptical to the US idea of creating a free economic zone in Donbas.
• One of the main demands of the Russian Federation is the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Ukrainian Donbas. Meanwhile, a NATO official said that the Alliance does not expect the Ukrainian front to collapse in Donetsk region at least for a year and a half.